Jade: The Price of Vengeance (Part 7)

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Jade: The Price of Vengeance (Part 7)
by:
Lilith Langtree


The Sinestro War is over. When the Green Lanterns come home, who do they find tending the roost? Jade is brought to Oa for trial, but life is never that simple for Earth's newest Lantern.

They were coming in from the city. There was not telling what kind of damage they had done on the way in. They were here — on my planet!

Mine!

I put everything I had into a burst of speed. “Ring whatever you have to do…”

Done.”

I didn’t recognize the faces of the Yellows as being from the no-battle above Oa, but that didn’t mean anything. There were hundreds there and I was sure there were more nightmarish creatures that I hadn’t begun to conceive as of yet. Before we came within decent fighting range, a giant violet mace or hammer slammed at them from over the top of me. I didn’t bother to look back. It was obviously one of my Sapphires.

A dozen thin lances of light erupted from my ring and connected with the lead’s shield. Within moments they’d burrowed their way through the Yellow’s shield and then through the Yellow’s body, forming into barbed hooks and pulling in twelve different directions. The result was catastrophic to the creature’s body.

Violet and Yellow constructs filled the area. I heard automatic gunfire to my left and caught a glimpse of Sharon holding a seriously big violet automatic weapon of some sort, mowing away at one of the Yellows. It wasn’t doing any damage, but it was forcing the creature back and away from me.

Sarl appeared and grappled with a large beetle-like insect with two of his arms while the other two slammed construct-enhanced fists into its outer shell over and again. Suu and Lyja were taking on the last one while I helped Sharon with hers.

Its body was humanoid, but that was about it. A long blue-furred sinuous neck never formed into a head, but ended in a maw filled with needle-sharp teeth that were snapping at her, trying their best to make contact. It shaped a Yellow ball-like construct around her with spikes turned inward and I could tell that they were constricting with massive force.

Before I brought my ring around to the target, I was slammed into from behind.

Pain spiked through my lower back, but Ring strengthened my shield and spun me around, lashing out with those same thin lances, but didn’t have a chance to burrow through the shield of the beetle creature that Sarl was wrestling with. It rolled and I saw what it was that had struck me: a five foot long arm with a single stinger on the end dripping with a greenish fluid.

Sharon screamed. I didn’t know if it was with anger or pain until she was thrown past me. Something clamped down on my left shoulder, breaking through my shield. Ring didn’t waste any time making a circular saw construct and separating the neck from the creature with the teeth Sharon was fighting. More than two dozen lances tore the thing apart while four more pried the tooth-filled mouth from my shoulder.

Jade this isn’t good.”

A yell from my right, brought my head around and I saw Sarl peel back the shell of his opponent, sinking two of his hands into its back to rip away whatever was underneath.

My entire left arm felt like it was on fire. “Oh crap…” I said as I dropped.

~O~

“My queen,” Sarl’s voice dug through the darkness bringing me back to consciousness.

I blinked away the fog in my brain to see I was in the medical bay of the Jordan. His face was hovering over me with a play of emotions I hadn’t seen before dancing in his eyes.

“How do you feel?”

My mouth was dry and I swallowed before answering. “My arm is numb.”

“Good. There was much damage; however your medical facilities were able to repair most of them.”

“Sit me up.”

The bed back rose slowly and I was finally able to concentrate on what was happening. “Is everyone okay?”

“Your guards are whole though not uninjured. They were treated and then released to resume their duties.”

Looking to my left I saw a series of jagged scars on my shoulder that looked awful. “Was that thing’s teeth poisoned or something?”

“It was a parasite. After draining you of approximately two pints of your blood, it was in the process of impregnating you with two hundred and four of its eggs.” My eyes widened at the thought. “They’ve all been removed and destroyed.”

“It did all of this in like five seconds?”

Sarl sighed. “Another five and you would have been dead.”

I closed my eyes and just breathed. This had become far too real for me.

“There was a fifth yellow in hiding that your ring sniffed out. She is our captive for your pleasure.”

My pleasure? “Pardon?”

“Questioning, execution, torture, whatever you desire, my queen.”

I shook my head and pulled away from the bed. “No torture, ever, Sarl. I mean it. We’re not like the Yellows. Either punish your enemies or kill them.” When he saw the look on my face, he backed off.

“As you command.”

I didn’t argue with his choice of words this time, because that’s exactly what they were. “What about their rings?”

“All but one was destroyed, and we have that in our possession.”

My brows furrowed as I swung my legs off the bed. “Why isn’t it destroyed?”

“Your ring asked us to contain it until it spoke to you.”

“Ring, uniform, please.”

The violet suit reformed on her body along with a moderate sling forming to support my left arm until it was fully healed. I stood and gathered my balance. “Status report.”

Sinestro Corps members at the lead of Low, the creature that injured you, attacked with the singular purpose of killing you, Jade. It seems as if Sapphire Rathbone’s suspicions have been justified. Your full guard has arrived on Earth and has taken measures to insure your safety. The Command Cruiser Phy’zzon is in geosynchronous orbit above this position.”

Gheeze. “How long was I out?”

Eight hours and seventeen minutes. I’m not through yet.”

I licked my lips and leaned back on the bed. “Sorry, go ahead.”

Sapphire Koriand’r has taken the entirety of the Sapphire Corps to Oa for training. The offer was made by the Guardians at the behest of Lantern Gardner. In their absence, Lanterns Natu and Gardner have been dispatched to train your guards. The rest of the details can wait.”

It was a lot to take in. “Where are we?”

“Still on Earth, my queen. Your… friends have been most insistent in knowing the progress of your health.”

I gave him a placating smile. “They’re my friends. Of course they’re worried.”

He frowned. “It is not only that, my queen. There is a…” He looked lost as he searched for the correct word. “A warrant has been issued for your arrest and that of myself and Sapphire Agathon for the murder of the Yellows.”

My eyes narrowed. “Murder?”

“Indeed. From their eyes, it was you that struck first and most decisively, even though it was my hammer that began the fight. Our battle is currently being broadcast over the entirety of your planet’s communications networks.”

I didn’t have time for this. “We need to leave, before anymore of Sinestro’s Corps show up.”

“Agreed. The ship is prepared and ready for launch.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m leaving it here for my team.”

Sarl’s low brow rose, but he didn’t say anything.

“I need to go talk to them, Sarl.”

He nodded. “May I suggest you make your arm restraint invisible, for the moral of the Corps?”

A chuckle almost escaped my lips. “I’m not invulnerable, Sarl. Today proved that if nothing else.”

“Only the closest to you know that, my queen.”

I shrugged. “Them and about six billion other people on the planet if they filmed the battle.”

“Displaying an injury and resilience in battle are two totally different things. As a leader it’s best to always display yourself through a position of strength.”

~O~

Taking his advice, I altered the sling so that my arm was held by my side in a relaxed position by an invisible sling. When we left the medical bay, I noticed two new guards at the door that preceded me while Sarl took up the rear. Two more were at the airlock inside and outside. The display of my guard was overwhelming. There were more than twenty-five present. Four of them had shields encircling the Jordan, layered between me, them, and two on the exterior to prevent anyone from being able to approach or to even get a clear glimpse of what was going on underneath the shield. It was that thick.

At the rear of the Jordan, on the concrete was a Yellow Lantern heavily restrained and caged in a small jail-like construct.

“Who is she?”

Fatality of Sector 1313. Hunter-born, very deadly. It took the combined might of four of your guard to bring her in. Her wounds have been healed and she has been placed in our custody.”

I didn’t feel pity for her. If she was a Yellow Lantern then she’d already earned a death sentence.

If I may, Jade.”

“Why is she still alive, Ring?”

Conversion. We could use the knowledge she holds of the Sinestro homeworld, and it would be acquired much easier if given willingly.”

I nearly choked. “You want to her to be a Star Sapphire? How?”

As you were encased in the Violet Crystal, so can she be, however it will be a different process that she undergoes.”

The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. “You want me to brainwash her into being a good guy? I can’t do that.”

“Should we release her then, or perhaps simply kill her while she is restrained?”

Grinding my teeth, I looked at the helpless hunter in the cage. It was an impossible decision where no option was sufficient. “I don’t like being manipulated into a corner, Ring.”

My apologies, it was not my intension to do so, only to strengthen our Corps. I did not take your injury… lightly.

Closing my eyes, I sighed. “Of course you didn’t. We have a lot to learn and there’s no room to apply a curve. Mistakes are going to happen. Let’s deal with this and move on.”

“Let’s give her the choice.”

As I approached the cage, I noticed she didn’t have a whole lot of room to move as she was pretty much locked into place on her knees. Her eyes found mine. There was contempt in them, but she held the gaze.

“Fatality. For your past crimes and for your attempt on my life and those of my fellow Corps members I give you one of two choices: conversion to a Star Sapphire or death.”

Her eyelids half closed and she chuckled. “You have larger balls than your Green counterparts, Star Sapphire. I’ll give you that much.”

Sarl was standing beside me, clenching his hands.

When she reopened them her stare was deadly. “You cannot purge my desire to cause great fear in others.”

I beg to differ; I believe we can do just that. Take the offer, Fatality, if you do not wish to have your existence end here.”

The light went out from behind her eyes. “Do what you must. I’m dead either way. I always have been.”

Concentrate your Will and Love through your Sapphire crystal, Jade.

It was difficult to think of love when I looked at her, but I brought up in, my mind’s eye, the moment I knew that Sora’nik wasn’t dead anymore, the process I used to urge a portion of my life to bring her back and I pushed it through the crystal in my tiara.

A wide cone of light melted away the construct encasing Fatality and bathed her in its radiance. In the span of a second, crystals formed and thickened around her body until she was entirely incased, frozen in time like an insect in amber.

A sick feeling came over me. This was wrong in so many ways.

Never again, Ring. I won’t ever do this again.”

Understood.

It was the look in Sarl’s eyes that threw me. He didn’t think I’d do it, and now he knew what I was capable of. He was uneasy. I think he would have had more respect for me if I would have killed her. This way was… to erase what made a person who they were was inhumane. I’d crossed a line that I never thought I’d ever even conceive of.

God help me.

~O~

They let Terra through the shield thinking she was the weakest of my team and easily controlled. In truth, she was one of the strongest Metas in existence. With the power to control the body of the Earth itself she wielded the strength to crack the world in half if she had the time and the ability to concentrate for long enough.

“You’re okay?” she asked.

I nodded. “We have to leave.”

Her face fell. “Yeah. Courtney and Gemma have orders to take you into custody. Like that’s going to happen. Court actually laughed at her boss when he said that. Gemma flipped him off with the Middle Finger of Doom.”

A giggle rose up from my stomach. Trust Terra to make me feel like I wasn’t entirely a monster.

“Am I going to see you again?”

I nodded. “This is a speed bump. What they don’t understand is that this is Corps business. They don’t get a say in what happens.”

Leaning in, she gave me a hug. “Take care of yourself, Jade. Oh, and bring me a rock from Mars when you get a chance. I have a science project due at the end of the year and I’d totally get an A if I could pull that one off.”

“Consider it done.”

As I watched her walk away, I felt a portion of my life had ended and another one had begun. “Let’s get out of here, Sarl.”

~O~

When we hit the outer atmosphere there was someone waiting for me. Before any of my Sapphires could become violent I stopped them and shot forward.

Megan was waiting for me with her arms crossed and concerned look in her eye. I didn’t waste any time in forming a violet bubble around the both of us so we could talk without having to resort to the mental thing which threw me at times.

She looked behind me and then at my new outfit. “I’m hearing some bad things about you, Jade. Tell me they’re not true.”

“They’re true from their perspective. They don’t know the whole story.”

In a few moments we were entirely surrounded by my guards along with a few layers of protection to go along with mine.

She looked around. “New friends?”

I sighed. “It’s a long story and we need to get back to Mars.” Then a thought came to me. “Want to come with us?”

A look drew across her face at my offer. “You driving?”

Shaking my head, I pointed over her shoulder. Megan turned around and saw the Command Cruiser coming out from behind a cloak of invisibility.

There were a lot of orange-skinned people aboard the Phy’zzon, and I came to the conclusion that the height and beauty I saw in Kori wasn’t because of good genes. All of them were just as stunning, male and female alike. Megan and I were escorted to what I found out was my permanent quarters on board. The size of the room was about twice the area of my room on the Jordan. The addition of an office made it so.

It was there that I updated Megan on what had happened in my absence on Earth, with a holographic replay of the battle that took out the Central Power Battery and the replay of what Miri went through. Once I’d gotten to the portion where Low tried to make me into his baby momma I ended the projection.

She looked torn. I knew about what she went though only a couple of weeks past. The loss was clear on her face and he way she moved, but I suppose it was fairly well hidden to those that didn’t know what to look for.

What she wasn’t able to hide was the way her jaw locked and tightened when she watched Miri’s tale. There were simply too many similarities that mirrored her own.

Ring, duplicate yourself.”

Without saying anything, another ring appeared on the desk we sat at. It rose without direction and moved in front of her.

Megan Morse of Sector 2814, you have great loss in your heart.”

I whipped my hand out and grabbed the ring, already with an apology on my lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

She blinked. “The ring or its really ill-timed announcement?”

Looking sheepishly at the violet ring in my hand I closed my fingers around it. “The last part. Look, one of the things that this thing can do is help you deal with…” I could bring myself to even say her name. “…her death.”

Megan pushed her chair back and stood, turning away from me. I couldn’t tell if she was hiding her face, looking around, or if she was just plain angry.

“I’m offering you a place with the Star Sapphires, Megan.”

The intercom to the room took that moment to chime with Suu’s voice following soon after. “We are in orbit above Mars, Jade.”

“Thank you. We’ll be out in a minute.”

My friend was already turned around. Her eyes were a bit glassy. “Keep your ring Jade.”

“But…”

“I’m not all that convinced that hunk of purple on your hand hasn’t changed you in some way. You would have never considered killing someone when you were going green.”

I flinched, stung by her words.

“Believe me, I know how cruel the universe can be. I know how much you can want to strike out at those responsible, but you aren’t a god, Jade. The pretty crown on your head doesn’t give you the right to end someone’s life just because you deem it unrepentant and irredeemable.”

Gripping the ring in my hand, I tried to stand a little taller. “The first Yellow Lantern I killed, I did so with a green ring, and I don’t regret it. Given it or me, I’ll choose me every time.” I raised my hand and pointed at her. “Those things I killed on Earth, Megan? They were sent to kill me, and one of them almost did. ME! It sank its teeth in me and decided I’d make a good host for its two-hundred killer little babies. Pardon me if I don’t have any compassion left for things like them. I can’t afford it.”

Spinning around I slammed my fist on the desk.

“You don’t think I’m going to have nightmares about this? Every time I close my eyes too long I see Sora’nik’s dead body. I feel those teeth ripping into my shoulder.”

Before I turned around I felt a hand on my back. “I think you have plenty of nightmares to keep you busy. I also think that you’ve been pushing yourself for far too long. I’ve seen it too often, Jade. I used to be a cop, remember?”

Dropping the ring on the desk, I wiped at my eyes. “Yeah.”

“You can’t bear the entire weight of the universe on your shoulders and it not affect you. What I’m telling you is you need a break.”

Shaking my head, I discounted her advice immediately. “Too much is happening.”

“And it always will. It never stops. Pretty soon, you’ll be finding yourself considering things in a different way, letting minor crimes go on because it benefits you, but accepting them because it’s for the greater good. Then you step up to the next level. Pretty soon the most monstrous thing imaginable becomes a possible tool in your arsenal. When does it end, Jade?”

Remembering what I just got finished doing on Earth I knew that I’d already arrived at that point. I took up the ring once more and turned, holding it out to her. “Then take it. Be my conscious. Tell me when I’ve gone too far and kick my butt until I can see straight. Please.”

Her hand twitched. I could see she was considering it, but she held on to her resolve. “You need to deal with this on your own.” She backed away and went to stand in front of the door to the room. “In the end, if we can’t step away from the edge then all the advice in the world can’t help us. I have my own issues that I have to deal with before I could make a commitment to you like that.”

Reaching up, she pressed the release to open the door. “Besides, there’s no way I’m calling you my queen. Really, Jade… queen? And the uniforms… purple and green? I’d look like a big walking bruise.”

I snorted and sniffed back the tears that were threatening to fall.

~O~

The Phy’zary had already dropped a lot of equipment on top of Mount Olympus. Megan flew ahead of the rest of us. Sarl had dismissed half of the guard, but my core that I entered Earth’s atmosphere with was surrounding me while others stayed back and performed scans of the system, keeping a watchful eye out for anything threatening.

When Megan landed on the surface we were just a few moments behind. I stayed back and just watched as she walked around taking in the landscape wondering what she was thinking about. From what I knew about her origins they might have been tied back to this planet. There was really no way to be sure.

When she’d had enough she turned and came back. I encased us in another bubble to ensure our privacy.

“Find anything noteworthy?” I asked.

“Maybe. I need to think about it for a while though.”

Looking back at Mount Olympus, I paused. “The offer is still on the table, Megan. Later, if you change your mind, I mean.”

If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she ignored me. “What you need right now is someone to tell you that you’ve stepped over the line, whenever you do so, or hopefully before it happens.”

She nodded at my guards and vaguely gestured toward them. “Right now you have a bunch of sycophants that look like they’ll do anything you say. That’s too much power for one person to hold, Jade.”

I frowned at that. “Is that any different from what I had on Earth? Just because we have a common goal doesn’t mean they’re mindless.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You implied it. They’re my people, Megan.”

She pointed at herself and then up into the sky. “We’re your people. Terra worships the ground you walk on like a little sister. Courtney’s gone to bat for you so many times against her own government. What happens to them now that you’re out here? What happens the next time one of those yellow things comes to Earth, the things that you brought to our planet?”

Again, her words stung, biting into me. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. That’s one of the reasons I chose Mars, so I’d be close enough to help if something went wrong.”

Megan sighed and scratched at her head. “I didn’t mean to blame you, Jade. I know you wouldn’t want anything to happen to them, but the fact remains it’s a possibility now, and we don’t have the raw power to take care of ourselves anymore. Even the strongest Meta would have serious trouble going up against you, and they came at you with four. What’s next, twenty? Earth could be a wasteland after the end of that battle.”

I reached for anything that I could. “You’re under the protection of the Green Lanterns and the Star Sapphires. If it’s in our power that won’t happen.”

She chuckled. “The same Green Lanterns that got their butts handed to them on Oa, where they should be their strongest?”

“You’re making my point for me, Megan. The biggest threat is the Sinestro Corps and drastic measures have to be taken to eliminate that threat.” I saw the challenge in her eyes and decided to send out my own barbs. “You can stand there and be all holier than thou, but you know I’m right. You saw what they’re capable of. This isn’t some sort of mafia that is out to make a buck. Their sole purpose is to create fear and kill people in the most horrible way possible; that’s it.”

Frustration was on both our faces. We knew we were arguing in circles and that it would solve nothing.

~O~

“You look awful,” Sora’nik said as she landed beside me.

I gave her a weak smile as I watched Megan flying off into the atmoshpere. “Do I? Thanks I feel just as bad.”

“Come on, you’re going straight to the galley for a decent meal and then to bed.”

She didn’t wait for my answer and instead encircled me, along with herself, in a green orb and lifted up off of Mars’ surface for the return trip to the Phy’zzon. Instead of visiting the galley, there was a meal waiting for me in my room.

I stuffed myself and was led soon thereafter to a pretty nice bed that was built for someone a lot taller than I was. When I was changed into something I could sleep in, Sora’nik made sure I was tucked in before she turned to leave the room.

Something deep inside me called out. “Sora’nik.” She turned at the door and I swallowed. “Could you… would you stay for a little while, just until I fall asleep?”

Concern fell across her face. “Perhaps I should call for a sedative?”

“No, just you.”

She looked around the room then lowered the lights before creating a comfortable chair construct beside the bed. When she sat down I reached out my hand and she took it in hers.

“Close your eyes, Jade. I’ll be here.”

It took some time, but eventually I fell asleep.

~O~

By the time I woke, I was feeling more refreshed. Sora’nik was still in her chair construct sleeping peacefully. I wished I could say the same. Measuring my actions over the last twenty-four hours I knew there were things that Megan had said that held some truth to them.

I needed an advisor, someone to ground me, before I did something stupid and unforgivable, much like I did on Earth.

Without waking her, I got up and changed into my uniform. After brushing my hair out I looked back at Sora’nik and exited the room. Suu and Sharon were standing guard.

“Where are we holding Fatality?”

Suu provided that answer. “In the ship’s brig. There’s been no change in her status.”

I nodded. “Call Sarl and Lyja we’re meeting there, now.”

Sharon took her cue and started down the hall toward one of the lifts. After a few moments, Suu acknowledged that my other core guards were on their way.

It didn’t take too long to arrive. Tamaranean guards manned the secure office overlooking the brig and two Sapphire guards were in front of her cell, probably bored to tears. When we entered, I dismissed them. I looked up at the office where the other guards were.

“Could you open the cell, please?”

After a few moments the energy field that served as a door winked out. Using my ring, I lifted the crystal that encased Fatality and backed it out, holding it in front of me. That’s about the time that Sarl and Lyja entered.

“My queen? Is it time for her to emerge?” asked Sarl.

“Ring, how long until the process is complete?”

It has only just begun, Jade. Altering a person’s personality is a lengthy process. Another five standard days will be required before it is complete.”

“Fine. Sarl, would you lead us to the closest airlock.”

His eyes widened. Instead of questioning me, he turned around and started down to the lift. It was a little crowded and I could feel tension begin to fill the small conveyance. They didn’t have a clue as to what I was going to do.

When we reached the room that held the airlock, I sealed it off and created a shield that would give us privacy.

Holding a hand out to brush along the crystal, I sighed with regret. “What I did was wrong. I knew it the moment I did this, but I justified to by thinking it was for the greater good. One person’s mind in return for the information that could end the suffering of thousands seemed like a fair trade. But it’s not.”

I let the crystal settle to the deck and withdrew the beam that was holding it.

“We’re supposed to be the highest representatives of love in the universe. We were chosen to defend that love in any way possible, but what I’ve forgotten is that it’s our duty to be examples as well. I won’t have us becoming the monsters Sinestro and his fear mongers are.”

Sarl crossed his upper arms. “What are you saying, my queen?”

I looked at him and the others waiting for some sort of direction. “I’m saying that as of this moment, I’m not your queen. That ends today. I need advisors, and I’m volunteering you four for that position. To you four I am simply Jade, the leader of our Corps. I want your opinions, not what you think I want, but what you feel inside yourselves.”

Pointing at the crystal I felt a measure of nausea well in my stomach. “This can’t happen again. We can destroy the Yellows, but I’m not going to enslave them to our will. To do so would make us just as evil as them.”

Lyja moved forward to take a look at Fatality. “You plan on jettisoning her out of the airlock, Jade?”

I shook my head. “I plan on releasing her… with her ring.”

“What if she goes out to kill again?” Sharon stressed.

I was pleased to hear someone question my choice. “What would you suggest?”

“Destroy the yellow ring and return her to her home planet to answer for her crimes,” said Suu.

Sarl grumbled. “Kill her here.”

Lyja nodded toward Suu. “I agree, let her own people decide her punishment.”

“Sharon?”

The former Cylon looked at me. “I’ve seen too much death, Jade, but I don’t know what else to do. Her Corps could find and release her all over again.”

I took a moment to mull over their decisions. “Ring, you’ve been awfully quiet.”

It’s not my place to offer advice in this instance, Jade. I’m the one that got you into this mess to begin with. For that I am truly sorry.

I didn’t bother to correct her, because she was somewhat right. I made the final decision, but some things simply shouldn’t even be conceived.

“Call up two Sapphires to take her to Sector 1313 and break her out of that crystal. Afterward come to my room, we need to talk about the future of the Corps. Changes need to be made before we take another step. Something like this can’t happen again. Ever.”

TBC...

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Comments

Queen, leader, same difference

... I mean she still has the ultimate word in her corp. Queens can have advisers and if chosen well will not be sycophants. I know she is trying to set a tone but unless she wants to set up a democracy but that brings problems of its own.

As far as the earthers arresting her, well she is technically out of their jurisdiction and really should have diplomatic immunity at the least, not to mention being acknowledged as being head of state. Non issue, imho.

It looks like a yellow needs to be killed, no quarter given and that's it. Strong love but not wishy-washy love is what she should be striving for and hope she is not losing her nerve.

Kim

To attain diplomatic

To attain diplomatic immunity she would have to be recognized by whatever country or organization that gives it out. The government doesn't even know that she's a Star Sapphire as of yet. I agree that all the yellows should simple be put out of everyone elses misery.

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree

~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

Very Interesting

Enemyoffun's picture

Things are turning very interesting indeed. I figured some of her actions would come back to haunt her. It does sound like the Star Sapphireness might be swaying her just a little bit but I think she'll get a handle on it.

I'm kind of curious to see what happens with Fatality though.

Mistakes

Enemyoffun's picture

She wouldn't be a hero without mistakes :)

The price of leadership

Jemima Tychonaut's picture

The conversion of yellow lanterns to star sapphires never really sat comfortably with me and I'm glad that Jade has made a decision not to go down that route now. And although Fatality probably will come back to haunt her, by not executing her Jade has sent another valuable message as to what sort of corps she intends to build. There may be more pitfalls ahead but its a promising start for Jade's leadership of the corps.

Thank you for another enjoyable chapter.



"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I am reminded a little

Of how it is the nature of AIs to voice observations. And those observations may be taken as suggestions, whether it was the intended result or not.

No more than 12 hours must have passed since the encasement. Which means the conversion processed was at most 9% complete, and who knows how much of that was unfolding the rigid mental structures, breaking down defences without changing their alignment. If I read it correctly, Fatality is sent to her own Sector to be released. Since nothing was mentioned about her ring, we can assume it was likely severely depowered to bring her into custody, but is otherwise still on Fatality's finger.

Sinestro will hear about this, and it wlll lead him to conclude that Jade doesn't have what it takes to win this war, that she is good in a straight fight, but can not proceed with the follow-up. I have an almost certainty that Fatality will return to Sinestro Corps, shortly after being released. It is not certain how (and why) she will proceed afterwards. I suspect she, as a failure, will be temporarily demoted and assigned menial duties, how Sinestro understands them - that is, patrolling territory, claiming new planets, nothing too strenious or significant in case of a foul-up.

Jade, however, now has a lot of her own demons to consider. Hopefully, this new job of hers will leave her without nightmares and self-resentment. She has already crossed the line she never thought she could, and it still has a lot of room for the worse.

Megan, I should have seen the offer coming. I suspect she will have her own share of thoughts.

And the Earth government? From their reaction it is rather clear that the Yellows haven't done anything too noticeable to the city - otherwise the warrants would have produced a lot more negative public uproar than was shown (namely, none). And the way I see the situation it is not as much of a murder or, as Jade put it, "Corps business", as an act of war undertaken on the territory of a neutral party. Generally frowned upon.

Faraway


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Fatality was sent to her

Fatality was sent to her home planet to be given to her government for whatever they want to do to them. The suggestion was to destroy the ring and take her there. And the ring wasn't present during encasement so the Sapphire's still have it and it'll be destroyed.

So, Sinestro will have to track her down. Without a ring I don't know how he'll find her, but Fatality is resourceful. She should be able to break out and find her way back to him eventually, if she wanted to.

The warrants will be covered in the next chapter, probably, for good or bad.

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree

~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

I think Megan was saying one

I think Megan was saying one thing while having and willing to do the other if she came across someone with the mind chip again. She has killed people herself and it seemed to me that she was putting a lot of guilt on Jade, maybe because she feels full of it herself. Because, I don't think she really feels that others don't have the same feeling and rights that she has expressed. On another note, I hope they sent a mars stone back for Terra, after going all the way there it would be bad to forget so soon, and Jade's ring does not have the option to say she forgot. The issue with Fatality seems pretty bad, the process was started so there is the issue that what was done to make her like she was may breakdown on its own. And, if things are the same here in the recon-verse they will find she has no people or home-planet to be tried at. She did tell them that she was dead either way. I am still looking for more, after all I am hooked on the story now.

Usagi

Has she?

Has she really killed someone intentionally? I don't remember that. All I remember is her going out of her way to make sure that people were embarrassed or threatened, a mild form of torture, and crapping the beat out of the guy at the end, leaving him to be killed by others later. Maybe I missed something.

But you're right, she has issues that need dealt with, she freely admits.

Hopefully, they send something back better than a rock. There's got to be something down in that old military base. Maybe a "Mr. Fusion". That should get her an A on her project.

More on Fatality later. ;)

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree

~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

*cough*

Actually, she has, but it was never said directly.

In the last chapter of the first story, she narrates that Tony Carpaci has disappeared and wouldn't likely resurface any time soon... She has first hand knowledge of why he won't be resurfacing.

She anguished over whether her powers gave her the right to be judge and jury, but ulitimately the loss of Dolores made it moot.

Megan won't lose any sleep over hurting or even killing someone who needs it, but she wouldn't kill someone simply because she could.

two thumbs up!

I'm very happy with the interplay between Jade and Megan. Awesome job! I think it will add to the development of both characters.

Bear in mind that in the timeframe of this story, it's only been a couple of weeks since Dolores died. If Megan had found out about Fatality's brainwashing, her reaction would have been far more extreme. But she didn't know, and hopefully she never finds out, or at least if she does find out, also learns that Jade couldn't follow through with it.

Lilith and I discussed Megan's possible reactions to Jade's offer. It's possible -- though not certain -- that I might find a reason to explain her side of it more fully in her own story.

As to why

it's pretty obvious based on what happened to Dolores. But like it or not, Megan is not thinking as a head of state only as a law enforcement officer.

Jade on the other hand gets to set the agenda, the laws, for her tribe, corp, nation, whatever. And if Megan were to join she would be pledged to enforce those laws. Though constrained by some universally held constraints of decency I would hope, she still has the burden to make sure she protects those in her charge.

No nation is perfect. There are a lot of assassinations and the like which a lot of folks will never hear about by governments, including ours, that we will never find out. That is one of the reasons stuff like what is leaked by Wikileaks only make other nations merely shrug as they would not do any different if they were in our position, or maybe even if they weren't.

Ironically, the conspiracy nuts are very disappointed in what they've read about as it contradicts their worldview of what the United States must be a unhindered power mad evil nation running roughshod over all and sundry. It has lead them now to put forth that the whole fiasco was just another elaborate conspiracy by the United States to show the world that they are not as bad as they think they are.

Point is, Jade should cut herself some slack as this is early days and Megan is overreacting due to her own recent problems. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle. So yes, it would be great to bring a consensus into the rest of Jade Brigade about whether she can still be relevant to their lives and if they can support the 'new' Jade.

Kim

I'm glad you're happy with

I'm glad you're happy with what I did. I really didn't think Jade could walk away from Megan without offering her a ring. The ring itself noticed that she deserved one.

So this was the one instance that I used another author's character. I can't say that I don't do that anymore. I feel so violated now. ;) She didn't even cuddle.

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree

~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

*cuddles Lil*

...and promises to call her in the morning.

1) A state of war exists

1) A state of war exists between Sinestro Corps and an Alliance of the Green Lanterns, Star Sapphires and presumably most of the planets. The fight should be interpreted in that light.

2) I'd have thought Jade would feel more comfortable being called "Madame President"

I think Boss-lady would be

I think Boss-lady would be appropriate. From the point of view of the government, she was just filmed killing someone without obvious justification. That's enough for a warrant. The courts or DA would decide whether or not it was justifiable under whatever circumstances. More on that later though.

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree

~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

Jade: The Price of Vengeance (Part 7)

Jade and Megan BOTH have to deal with guilt. While Megan as a Star Sapphire, or Green Lantern would be awesome, it would also make her as powerful as Sodam Yat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodam_Yat

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Hmmm Wanted eh...

Well, I think Lantern Guy Gardner aught to be able to clear that up in short order.

Assuming that any of the other Human Lanterns have 'official' contacts with Earth governments.

-sb

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Rest and reflection

On Earth, before the Lanterns turned up, Jade's life was pretty much sorted. Although theoretically a Lantern Cadet for the entire sector, she stayed with territory that was familiar to her (Earth), cultivated a group of heroes, and pretty much concerned herself with Earth business.

Then she was collected for trial, and within a very short space of time saw aliens, more advanced technology, became a Sapphire, saved the life of her arresting officer, met the Sinestro Corps for the first time (in battle), became very angry with them (to the extent of adopting the 'Kill on sight' clause), reintroduced herself to (some of) her Earth friends, and then met the Sinestro Corps again in battle.

She's pretty much been working on autopilot for the past few days - she really needs some time, with advisers (preferably including some from outside the Sapphire Corps), to try and craft some workable policies.

With regards to the situation on Earth, perhaps she should invite over some of the Lanterns and an open minded lawyer to explain the situation with the Sinestro Corps, and why such action had to be taken. To hide out on Mars indefinitely is a form of running away from her (Earth based) problems.

And talking of what to do with captured members of the Sinestro Corps, they should ideally find some alternative to the three options of (a) killing, (b) conversion, (c) returning them to their Sector. Since anger can be produced by a great loss as well as love, perhaps if they had a psychologist on their team - find out why they're so angry in the first place, showing them credible alternatives (stay with Sinestro, leave, or convert), and allowing them time to make a genuinely free choice.

 

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Jade's actions might just

Jade's actions might just come back to haunt her, sa she may have to actually fight Fatality in the future. i also believe that just possibly the short period Fatality spent in the sapphire stasis, might have done a little good in changing her to a better person. As the battle between the yellows and sapphires took place above the Earth, and no-one has claim to space, how can a warrant be issued on Jade or the others. I suppose it was that "world court" that believes they have jurisdiction over everyone else here on Earth who did it? I would have thought that Megan, being Miss Mars, would be more interested in what Jade is doing on Mars, than she appears to be at this moment.

Fatalities racial characteristics.

Judging from some of Fatality's comments do we even know if she CAN love?
It's one thing to overwrite Fatality's personality, it's another thing if the ring can make it POSSIBLE for her to love or to even glimpse what love is, that it can exist. Can the ring do that and only that? Perhaps that may be all that's needed for some of the Yellow Lanterns.

In cannon she was fully

In cannon she was fully converted. She had a mad-on to kill John Stewart because his arrogance led to her world being destroyed. Eventually she was captured by the Star Sapphires and converted. The first thing she did upon awakening was hunt him down and they chatted and she gave him a wet one on the lips. I had to question the process after that. "You killed my entire planet... here's a kiss."

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
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~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

I'm not familiar with the

I'm not familiar with the various colors of Lantern, other than Green and Yellow, but if from what you say is correct. That being that looks, acts, and has the memories of Fatality is no longer Fatality.

Jade's struggles

How do you deal with a foe that has no compassion, understands no limits? It feels like a no-win situation, either you become as bad as them, or you lose. As for her perception on earth, it is going to be a tough thing to rehabilitate, and it will have consequences for all metas. I am writing my Phoenix story right now, so I will probably find a way to mention this development, even though Jean is a little busy falling in love while this is going on....

"Treat everyone you meet as though they had a sign on them that said "Fragile, under construction"

dorothycolleen

DogSig.png

imbalance maybe

The conversion of someones mind by torture was rectified with Megan's help (which is a good thing) but her fight with the yellows should not have people trying to arrest her.
Jade has just become responsible for a portion of the universe and we have one planet's authorities trying to tell her what to do.
Earth's laws are not designed for every race in the universe. She needs a saphire rep on earth for politics or4 just to give them the lantern rules of maybe the green and violet corps.
PS- where was the green lantern of earth?

Passing the buck...

In a way Jade is passing the buck of Fatality. She is returning her to her home world to be punished, but has she even committed a crime there? Jade needs to either have a trial for her, hold her as a POW, or release her.

Out of curiosity, can Fatality's Ring be interrogated?

I'm still waiting for my Grey Ring (Apathy) but I don't think that it has left its home world yet.

A Grey Ring? :)

Now that's a thought. But, are you really sure it bothered even to begin its existance? ;)

Faraway


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Points of concern...

Jaden Cross is a U.S. citizen and subject to its laws. So, the U.S. can claim sovereign right to prosecution if Jade has admitted to that citizenship at any point.

There are now 6 times as many Star Sapphires in the Sol system as there were total Human Green Lanterns. Aside from the training cadre on Oa, this is the largest single concentration of Star Sapphires in the universe. Additionally, this group includes their 'Queen'. I don't think setting that base on Mars is going to make Earth safe. I don't think it would be safe to be within 80 - 100 light years of Earth with that juicy a target (hello supernova gamma ray burst).

Think about it from the Yellow perspective. What would cause more fear than to wipe out entire civilizations just because your enemies set up a base somewhere in their system.

While Earth might not have a valid case regarding the fight over Houston, it being a battle in an ongoing war and all, they certainly would not be happy with the drawing of the Yellow's attention to our corner of the universe.

-sb

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You have some good points

You have some good points here. One thing I want to note:

Jaden Cross is a Citizen of the US. JADE Cross, Female, is not. There have been no legal documents filed since the full SRS, which I would assume include DNA and Genetic changes. Thus, the person that was Jaden is gone, erased from existence. Jade exists with no citizenship of anyplace, no official documents of any planet or nation. So, if she claims Earth as home, there's not any one nation that will have her as a citizen, unless she declares and gets documentation saying so.

She could claim to be a child of Oa, or Zamoria, or anyplace else in the Galaxy at this point.
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Broke what laws?

Does the government(s) even have a right to charge Jade with a crime? She may have killed the yellows, but does any of the laws of earth cover killing extraterrestrial beings? Before Jade told them about aliens they were denying the existence of them. Second point, as someone else stated, Jade has no record of ever being a citizen of any Earth government. And, if she wanted could create a valid background for any that she wanted.

Usagi

As Lilith mentions

The battle took place in the territorial airspace of the United States, so I'd say the U.S. does have a dog in this hunt. It doesn't matter where the (alleged) perpetrator of a possible crime is from, the act is subject to the laws of the country of jurisdiction. But as others have pointed out, Jade may be said to have diplomatic immunity, so things could get 'difficult' very quickly. These are the kind of cases that make lawyers salivate uncontrollably. I suspect there will be plenty of big guns willing to take on her defense, the billable hours in a case like this would be staggering.

I think Jade would do well to get her sovereign immunity confirmed by both U.S. courts and The Hague, it could be very handy at some point I expect. But she should ignore the U.N. Her dominion, her "kingdom" as it were, lies far above that body. Dealing with them as equals would place her at a severe disadvantage.

. . . .

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.


I went outside once. The graphics weren' that great.

Power that corrupts, corrupts the powers that be

From my point of view it appears that both Jade and her ring have stepped away from the brink. Jade realizing that the power she holds is a greater responsibility to both herself and those she is trying to protect. The ring has learned that just because you can use your power to fix someone does not mean that you should. The lines are too close together and when you cross one you don't realize it until its to late.

Ah...

The difference between a wise man and a fool is not in the making of mistakes...

... but in the repeating of them.

Jade and her ring have made mistakes. But neither of them are fools and they now seek to redress the potential for repetition.

-sb

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As I said.

I wasn't referring to saying her personality should be wiped clean, merely see the ring give her more options if they didn't exist in her makeup.
I don't know cannon et al hence my question about her racial characteristics, if they were prone or could only only feel hate and were pro on inciting fear.

this is a valid observation

this is a valid observation even for those generally in the know about canon events. The Sinestro Corps have a step after being selected by a yellow Qward ring. They get tossed into a room where they have to face their greatest fear and either pass, die, or go insane and die. If they pass, some think that they are a different person as well. There's just no telling what each knew person will bring to the mix.

~Lili

Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree

~Lili

Write the story that you most desperately want to read.

Re: valild points

Megan was concerned about the ring changing a wielder. From what I can gather from the comics and from retcon that is true. The conversion of Fatality is one of the things in the comics that made the Sapphires seem very disturbing. We love you and its for your own good kind of thing. Scary too if you know what I mean.

On the other hand they are in a war. A really nasty destroying planets kind of war. Letting her go is like capturing Heinrich Himmler and doing the same. They KNOW she's committed horrible crimes so what do they do? Rehabilitation is one thing. Outright reprogramming is another, and Ring pretty much said that's what is happening here. What brothers me is Fatality's remark right before she is placed in the crystal. Is she insane hurting from some harm in her past? Does she need help or is even responsible for her actions? Perhaps I just read it wrong.

As for the warrants, I have another take on the general situation. Earth is like an American Indian village, and the GL's are US Marshals. Suddenly a troop of Confederate soldiers show up. (So not getting into good and bad of the Civil War. This is just an example from history.) Marshal Jade whips out her Navy Colt and starts blasting away. Village Earth is shocked at the Marshal's actions and looks at them as being unjustified.

Also that is silly saying Jade bought the Yellows to Earth, considering the other Earth GL's. Not having protection for our poor little blue world would be criminal. If Sinestro understands anything it's fear. He wouldn't hesitate for a moment to hold Earth hostage. Heck, attacking the homeworlds of the GL's are a standard tactic for him, and Earth has the outrageous number of FOUR actives ring bearers.

It was the Guardians that dragged Earth into their war, not Jade.

Great story!

Hugs!

Grover

Captured Yellows...

(Copied, rephrased and expanded from part of an earlier comment)

Ideally, Jade should attempt to find some alternative to the three currently tabled options of (a) killing, (b) conversion, (c) returning them to their Sector. Since anger can be produced by a great loss as well as love, perhaps if the Sapphires had a psychologist on their team - find out why the captured person is so angry in the first place, show them credible alternatives and allowing them time to make a genuinely free and informed choice.

Possible choices could include returning to the Sinestro Corps (although that's very unlikely as it would make them even more likely to attack!), leave and return home (similar to what's currently being proposed), convert to a Sapphire (voluntarily and without being pressured into doing so), or possibly other options such as staying out of both Corps but remaining on board as an advisor (obviously after a comprehensive programme of psychotherapy!) - especially if they have talents / skills that could prove useful.

You never know, Fatality might attempt to rejoin the Sinestro Corps, but after a while her conscience eventually reasserts itself and she resigns - hopefully away from other Sinestro members! - and maybe, just maybe, makes an independent decision to seek membership of the Sapphires.

 

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