DCU Green Lantern Corps #65 Plunge into the Darkness

To go along with the issue, here is the track for issue 6. If you care to, listen to it before, during or after the issue, I feel it elevates the experience :)

 

Track Link: Plunge into the Darkness

 

 

-^- Ysmault -^-

 

A blast of green energy struck hard against the liquid skeleton. Guy aimed his wrist, launching an attack at the next of the creatures, destroying the black mass.

 

He and Aya had arrived at Ysmault mere minutes ago, already bombarded by attacks of the darkness. It seemed like the Red Lanterns weren't going down without a fight, a full on war occuring in the main village near the Central Power Battery.

 

"These creatures seem to be constructs," Aya said, ducking under an attack of one of the skeletons. "However, they are infused with some type of dark energy."

 

Guy shot a blast, taking out the one that missed Aya. "It must be that curse that Alan did," he deduced, forming a baseball bat to smack the next. "It must mean there's a reanimated corpse running around."

 

"It seems that would be the most probable answer," Aya responded as her hands shifted to cannons. Green energy blasted from them, destroying multiple skeletons.

 

"Don't waste your battery," Guy said, forming a shield behind Aya, blocking the skeleton from behind her. "Until we fix the central battery, you need to conserve yours."

 

"Understood."

 

Guy raised into the air, aiming his ring at the giant skeleton moving towards them. "Rattle this, you son of a bitch," he mumbled, launching a flaming pumpkin construct at the skeleton, destroying it in one hit.

 

As Guy landed, he formed a bubble around Aya and himself, the AI pausing her continuous dodging to stand completely still. "The tracking process is complete," she stated. "I have located four sources of large spectrum energy."

 

Guy expanded the shield, spikes forming around it's exterior. "And?"

 

"There are two intense presences of death near the largest, the Central Power Battery," she explained, pointing to a nearby mountain. "However another large entity of rage is present in that mountain."

 

Guy looked at rock formation, eyes narrowing. "Alright then, let's go pay that big red bastard a visit."

 

"You've all been chosen as recruits of the Gre-"

 

"Yeah yeah, the ring already said all that," Guy mumbled, his legs kicked up in a construct of a lounge chair. "I get it, I'm a space cop now."

 

"How disrespectful!" Arisia gasped, placing a hand over her mouth in shock.

 

"I-I-I don't associate with h-him!" G'nort stuttered, pointing at Guy.

 

Hal facepalmed, standing across the room next to the hulking pink creature, Kilowog. The man in question's eyes slanted, teeth clenching.

 

"You wanna say that again, poozer?" he asked, a calm, but forceful tone in his words.

 

"I said that I-"

 

Guy was suddenly cut off, his body slamming into the floor. Above him stood Kilowog, his hand around Guy's torso.

 

"Listen here, you son of a bitch," Kilowog spoke looking directly into Guy's eyes. "You and your ugly ass haircut are gonna learn a thing or two about respect."

 

"Get your damn hands off of me, now," Guy demanded, ring flaring up, "or else."

 

"Do something, tough guy," Kilowog replied, spitting on Guy's face.

 

As Guy's bat construct formed, Kilowog created one of his own, instantly shattering Guy's and sending him across the room. His back hit the wall hard, leaving him winded.

 

"You got a lot to learn, haircut," Kilowog said, looking down at the man. "Good thing I've never failed at making a lantern outta a failure like you."

 

Guy's teeth grinded against each other, veins bulging as he clenched his fists. "I am not a failure," he said, his head tilting up to Kilowog. "I will never be a failure!"

 

Guy and Aya fought their way up the mountain, the onslaught of skeletal creatures never ceasing.

 

"It seems we have arrived at the entrance," Aya spoke, dodging a swing from one of the skeletons.

 

"Alright, let's go!" Guy said, blasting the skeleton and running forward into the cave, Aya following after him.

 

The moment Guy entered, he was hit by a blast of red energy, pushing a pinning Jim to the wall. Guy looked up to see Razer, his face covered in confusion.

 

"Gardner?" he asked, letting the construct fall. "What the hell are you doing here?"

 

"Ha, that was a good attack Razer," Guy said, coughing a bit from the pin. "I still beat you last time though."

 

"This is not the time, Gardner…" Razer angrily replied, which made Guy chuckle. "Now answer me!"

 

"We have been tasked to contact The Butcher," Aya said, making her presence known. "Would you please take us to Atrocitus?"

 

Razer tilted his head to the side, staring at Aya. "What is that?" he asked, turning to Guy.

 

"I am Aya."

 

"Don't worry about her," Guy said, waving off Razer. "Now, Atrocitus."

 

Razer nodded hesitantly, turning to lead them through the cave. "If the circumstances weren't as dire as they are now, I'd have killed you both back there," Razer said, his ring keeping a constant spark active.

 

"Right…" Guy said, rolling his eyes. "Still bear you last time, buddy."

 

"You sucker punched me, you imbecile."

 

"Still won though."

 

"Gardener I will-"

 

"Please," Aya said, placing her hand on Razer's forearm. "There is no need to be angry. Calm yourself."

 

Razer paused for a moment before yanking his arm back. "Atrocitus is in here."

 

Guy raised an eyebrow at the interaction, but ignored it as the large door came into vision. "I thought this was a cave," Guy said, taking in the pattern on the door.

 

"It's a last resort escape bunker."

 

Guy jumped at the female voice coming from behind him, turning to see Bleez. "God, don't sneak up on people during the apocalypse you damn succubus!" he shouted, watching as the blue-skinned woman floated to stand next to Razer.

 

"You act as if we're strangers, Gardner," Bleez chuckled, resting her arm on Razer's shoulder. "Did you really forget that night we shared on G-"

 

"Not the time, Bleez," Razer said, stopping the woman in her tracks. "They are here to speak to Atrocitus."

 

"And you trust them?"

 

"There isn't much choice…"

 

"Hey, still here," Guy interrupted, pointing to the door. "Can we get in there, we really don't have all day."

 

"If something happens to Atrocitus…" Bleez mumbled.

 

"Nothing will happen," Razer confirmed, creating a large, key-shaped construct.

 

The large door clicked open, Guy's eyes widening at the sight inside.

 

Laid out on a slab of stone was Atrocitus, a large gash in his abdomen. Tending to him was Skallox, who seemed concentrated on his scalpel construct.

 

"Atrocitus," Razer called, walking into the room. "You have a visitor."

 

"They can wait," Skallox called back, not turning his head. "Atrocitus is in the middle of a surgery."

 

"That's great, but he can put a bandaid on for now," Guy said, walking into the room. Aya followed close behind him.

 

"Gardner…" the red giant snarled, pulling himself to sit up.

 

"General, you'll pull the stitches I have done," Skallox sighed, wheeling his chair construct backwards.

 

Atrocitus ignored the man, bringing himself to a stand and walking to Guy. "Why shouldn't I kill you now?" he asked before stumbling, catching himself on a large stalagmite.

 

"I don't think you could if you wanted to…" Guy said with a slight wince as he viewed the wound up close. "What the hell happened to you?"

 

"The damn undead!" he shouted, crushing the rock that was supporting him. Dex-Starr quickly zipped from the corner of the room, bracing the giant. "One dressed in all black with a red eye… he blasted me with an eye beam… but what are you here for?"

 

"The Butcher," Aya spoke, gaining Atrocitus' attention. "The Green Lanterns of sector 2814 are currently on a mission to collect all emotional entities to battle Nekron. Both Ion and Adara have already been collected."

 

"And you wish for me to contact him…"

 

"Bingo."

 

"That's impossible then," Bleez said, shaking her head. "Atrocitus would not be able to traverse the battlefield in condition, let alone handle the raw power the central battery would emit."

 

"Huh?"

 

"Each emotional entity acts differently," Aya informed, pulling up pictures of all the entities. "While some only require a strong connection to the emotion like Will, Love, Avarice, and Hope… the others require you to bathe in Fear, Anger, and Compassion."

 

"Why!?"

 

"For that, you would need to ask the entities themselves, Guy," Aya remarked, earning a small chuckle from Bleez.

 

"I'll enter the battle…" Atrocitus said, clenching his fist.

 

"You are in no condition-"

 

"Yasiim. Uluva. Pendia…" Atrocitus spoke, his head lowering. "All this time… I believed that the Blackest Night would punish the sinners of this world… that the prophecy would need to come true… now, those who I call comrades fall to the very prophecy I could have stopped…

 

"You were right, Abin Sur," he declared, his ring burning bright red. His fist slammed into his wound, cauterizing it. "I will aid the warriors of the light… the Blackest Night will not fall… not as long as the hatred I have for myself burns."

 

Guy smirked, nodding to Atrocitus. "That's a turn of events I like to see. Now let's go kick some zombie ass."

 

-^-

 

The zombified King Atlan stood atop the central battery, his hands both raised.

 

"Nekron's Curse: The Dead King's Call"

 

Tens of black skeletons rose from the ground, charging the defensive line of Red Lanterns, led by Zilius Zox.

 

"The next wave is here!" the round man called, pointing toward the charging forces. "We need to protect the general until his surgery is complete!"

 

"Will you be able to?"

 

Zilius turned, eyes widening at the black figure charging him. He quickly formed a shield, blocking the barrage of eye blasts.

 

The Manta, Jesse Hyde.

 

Zilius snarled, a large cannon forming in front of him. "Stay back, you undead bastard!"

 

"Nekron's Curse: Darkest Depths"

 

The world around the Red Lantern defense line fell into darkness. Zilius attempted lighting the area, but his ring's power was only consumed into the void.

 

"Like minos in the sea…" the zombie called, a knife flying from the darkness into Zilius' hand.

 

"Agh!"

 

"Scream for me!" the zombie announced leaping out from the darkness.

 

As he brought his blade down, he was blasted away by a bright green light. The darkness around Zilius dissipated, multiple of the defensive line now dead on the ground. His eyes shot back to the source of the blast.

 

"Gardner!?"

 

-^-

 

Guy landed next to Zilius, patting him on the head. "Don't worry, Z, got you covered," he said, dodging a swipe from the man.

 

A roar caught both their attention, Guy turning his head to see Atrocitus leap towards the zombified Manta. The red man landed on top of him, pinning him to the ground.

 

Manta attempted another eye blast, but Atrocitus countered by vomiting blood. The heat of the crimson liquid scorched Manta's helmet, melting it and his head in one go. Reaching for his hand, he ripped the zombies' finger off, the ring melting into dust.

 

"Well, that's one way to stop a zombie," Guy winced, gently rubbing his own ring finger. "Now, where's skeleton man?"

 

"Up there!" Razer called, launching a barrage of laser blasts at the zombie sitting atop the battery. Multiple skeletons appeared in front of him, acting as shields to the blasts.

 

"Well, that does not look good," Guy said, looking over at Atrocitus, who was already charging forward on a bull construct. "Wait up big guy!"

 

Guy created a horse, riding forward to join Atrocitus. The man held his fist forward, blasting the skeletons as they charged. Atrocitus formed a large ball and chain, dragging it along the ground and flailing it into any that crossed his path.

 

"What's the plan?" he asked, turning towards Atrocitus. "Because the skeletons get bigger, and denser the closer we get."

 

"We fight!" Atrocitus announced, speeding ahead.

 

"Great plan, except that isn't one!" Guy shouted back, speeding up after him. A large skeleton dropped directly into Guy's path, forcing him to a stop.

 

Before he could act, a swarm of red bats appeared in front of the monster, immediately ripping it to shreds. Guy turned his head, spotting Bleez as she flew past him, the bar constructs following.

 

"C'mon, Gardner," she shouted, "get to the battery!"

 

Guy nodded, creating a sports car in place of the horse. He sped down the streets of the city, ramming into any skeletons in his path. Swerving to a stop, his eyes widened.

 

Around the battery grew large, skyscraper sized skeletons. Zilius, crashed into one with spiked armor around him, but the skeleton stood firm.

 

Guy launched from the car, forming a drill around his body. He made contact with the skeleton, but his construct did nothing to the skeleton's bones. The monster took notice of him, swatting him and sending him crashing to the ground.

 

As Guy stood, he felt intense heat to his left. Turning his head, he realized he was launched to the power battery. "Atrocitus!"

 

He watched as Atrocitus was charged at the monster, launching cannonball sized blasts. As he attempted to take flight, he only made it a few feet before falling. Looking down to his finger, he cursed under his breath.

 

He was out of juice.

 

"Gardner, I've seen it in you!" Atrocitus called, slamming a battering ram into the skeleton. "You have the rage inside of you… go, you can survive the battery! Speak to the Butcher… bring him to me."

 

"But I can't just-"

 

"You aren't doing anything with a dead ring, Gardner!" Razer shouted, slicing a scythe across the skeleton's wrist. "Go!"

 

Guy looked to the battery, then back to Atrocitus. "You all better not die until I get back!"

 

Running forward, Guy dove into the red center of the battery.

 

"Are you… done now?" Atrocitus asked, spitting blood onto the ground.

 

Across from him sat Guy, proper against a wall. His arm was broken and a large laceration ran along his chest.

 

"You think I'm done?" he shouted back, blood leaking from his lips. His ring cast a compression sleeve around his arm, snapping it back into place. Bringing his arm to his chest, he burned the cut, sealing it off. "You ready, you big red fuck!?"

 

"You can't win this, Gardner, leave!" Atrocitus shouted, his ring flaring up.

 

"That's your mistake," Guy said, his ring sparling to life. "Doesn't matter if I can or can't win… I won't give up… so don't you dare say I will!"

 

As he fell through the battery, his skin began to burn, the red energy like boiling water. It's consistency felt akin to blood as he swam deeper, the energy becoming thicker the deeper he got.

 

Failure

 

No Future

 

Nothing

 

Guy ignored the voice in his head, finally breaking free from the red energy, falling flat on his face. Pulling himself to a stand, the world around him was a blood red; rocks were coated in the liquid, as was the ground. The sky was pitch black, and his way back was gone.

 

"Well, then… hey Butcher!" Guy called, beginning to walk forward. "You here?"

 

You're a failure

 

Guy smacked the side of his head, shaking it a few times. "Wherever the hell you are, you're a real dick for the flashbacks," he shouted, hearing the words once more.

 

You'll never be ANYTHING

 

A loser

 

Your mother left because of YOU!

 

Guy dropped to his knees, the voice of his father echoing in his head. His hands clutched at his head, teeth gritting hard.

 

"God, you're really committed to this!" Guy shouted, panting. "Look, I know you're probably not in the mood, but we need you right now!"

 

"Why would I help you?"

 

Guy looked up, jumping back at the sight of the large red bull. It's eyes fanned like flames, as did it's horns.

 

"You're… the Butcher, I assume?" Guy asked, not receiving a response. "Alright, look… we're collecting your… brothers and sisters? Are you all related?"

 

The bull snarled, Guy raising his hands in defense. "Alright, alright… the emotional entities are needed," he explained pointing behind him. "We need your help to stop the Blackest Night."

 

"You did not answer me."

 

Guy sighed, griffin his teeth slightly. "Look, everyone, including you, are gonna die. Both Adara and Ion were nearly killed, but we were able to recover them," Guy explained, eyes narrowing at the bull. "You're just gonna die? Let rage die? Now c'mon you dumb bull."

 

Guy watched the bull's eyes shift, a small, red portal opening to the right of them.

 

"Thank you," Guy said, walking towards the portal.

 

"I can not leave, not without a host."

 

Guy stopped, turning back to the bull. "Atrocitus is right out there, I can get him for you," he said, pointing to the portal.

 

"The central battery has been overtaken already," the Butcher explained, nodding its head towards the black ceiling getting lower. "The entrance has been closed off."

 

Still a failure

 

"I said stay out of my head!" Guy shouted, aiming his ring at the Butcher. "I don't know what you're trying to do, you sack of shit, but quit it!"

 

Guy's eyes shifted downward, noticing the red aura he was beginning to emit. "I… I have to be your host…"

 

"The hate you have in your heart; it is strong. This place shall bring it out."

 

Guy's eyes closed, images of his father flashing through his head.

 

The belt. The hatred. The blood. The stench of alcohol. The hatred. The yelling.

 

The Hatred

 

"I… hate him…." Guy mumbled, the boiling liquid from before beginning to drip into his skin. "I hate him so much… everything he did… I wish I could've ended him… I wanted to crush him so badly!"

 

"Yes. Revel in the rage!"

 

'Guy Gardner, you have exhibited a Rage strong enough to be detected by the Butcher.

 

Guy let out a blood curdling scream as his body burned, boiling blood leaking from his skin.

 

"With blood and rage of crimson red," Guy spoke, his uniform changing to that of a Red Lantern, "ripped from a corpse so freshly dead."

 

Stepping out of the dripping blood, Guy's ring glowed a bright red, his eyes shining the same color. "Together with our hellish hate…"

 

-^-

 

Razer blasted a missile at the large skeleton, shattering it to pieces. "It's too much!" he shouted, shielding himself from another's attack. "We need to fall back!"

 

"To where!?" Skellox asked, piercing multiple skeletons with a large rapier. "There's nowhere to go!"

 

"Stop fighting!" Bleez shouted, her swarm of bats acting as a weapon and a shield.

 

Razer dodged another attack, spotting Aya being swarmed, but not attacking back. He quickly dove in, taking a strike to his back. Bursting red, the skeletons all were destroyed.

 

"Why are you out here if you can't fight!?" Razer asked, forming a shield around the two.

 

"I must wait for Mr. Gardner," she responded. "Thank you for reaching me, Razer."

 

"Its-"

 

Razer was cut by a bright light coming from the central battery. The blackness covering it began to melt away, replaced by crimson red. Cracks began to form on the rock formation, red light seeping out.

 

"We'll burn you all," called Guy's voice, echoing through the city. Suddenly, the power battery exploded, a construct of a large bull bursting from inside.

 

"THAT IS YOUR FATE!"

 

Razer's eyes widened as the entirety of the skeleton army was disintegrated by red fire. The zombie that controlled the skeletons fell to the ground, burning of red flames.

 

"Burn!" Guy shouted, the fire stoking, incinerating the corpse.

 

"That's…"

 

"The Butcher," Aya said, finishing Razer's sentence. "Let's go."

 

Razer nodded, following Aya to the center of the battlefield. Atrocitus stood beside Bleez And Zilius, both Dex-Starr and Skallox keeping him up right. "Gardner, you... you are the host," Atrocitus noted as the ginger man floated down to the group.

 

"Like the new digs?" he asked, earning no response. "I'm heading to Sector 666, it's where Black Hand is," Guy informed, already lifting himself into the air. "Stay here, none of you will be able to help. Let's go Aya."

 

Aya nodded, giving a small wave to Razer as she flew into the air. Guy began to follow, but Atrocitus called out to him, stopping him. "Gardner… good luck."

Done