Confronting Choices
"We are forced to admit that we were manipulated." The Guardian speaking looks as if he has swallowed his own tongue. "And we must reexamine the choices we made with her guidance."
"She did not guide us," another Oan argues. "We made the decisions we came to through logic. Her decision-making was not faulty until her corruption was complete and the Blackest Night had begun."
"Her decision-making was not faulty?" Ganthet declares, striding into the room. Sayd is at his side.
The other Guardians gasp. "You have been exiled from this organization!" one of the Guardians declares.
"Does that mean you will not hear us?" Sayd asks gently. "How can you be Guardians of the Universe if you will not hear perspectives from outside your number?"
There's a moment of silence, but eventually one inclines her head towards them. "You may speak."
"The Green Lanterns were battling against those who would be your allies," Ganthet announces. "The Blue Lanterns were created to support the Green Lantern Corps, but they were not accepted. The Star Sapphires could have been united with the Green Lanterns when this war began, but the Corps was battling on all sides, never seeing the approach of Blackest Night. Indeed, by killing your enemies, you made Nekron's assault stronger. She had convinced you that the prophecy was false, but it all came true. All of it. Tell me... where is the rightness of that choice?"
"Would you have us ally with the Sinestro Corps as well?" another Guardian argues. "And the Red Lanterns? That we ally with organizations sworn to destroy us?"
"They had attacked the Corps; an alliance to save the universe may have been required, but joining with such organizations long-term would be folly, I agree." Ganthet frowns. "In addition, realize that you made a deal with Larfleeze... a deal which nearly caused the destruction of one who wanted merely to be your ally. Why? Because you didn't know that you could trust the Blue Lanterns... because they weren't under your control. Have the Guardians truly fallen so far that they wish to become the Controllers now?"
Anger flares up in the Guardians, but then subsides. They cannot argue with the logic he posits. They have been attempting to control, not guard.
"Consider how many good Lanterns you lost when the law forbidding relationships was passed," Sayd adds. "You lost many good Lanterns."
"You lost Hal Jordan," Ganthet argues. "And if we had not given him a green ring, the universe you swore to protect would be gone now."
"You gave him a green ring?" one of the Guardians spits. "On what authority?"
"On the authority that I will do what is necessary to protect the universe when the Guardians fail to do so!" Ganthet replies. "Be angry if you like, but not at us -- at yourselves for making our decision necessary. And by all logical examinations... I am right."
There is a long pause in the chamber. The Guardians look amongst each other nervously.
"You may be right on this point, Ganthet and Sayd," one finally admits. "Perhaps... we have been lax in guardianship."
"Then allow us to assist you," Sayd offers. "We do not wish to return to the Guardians... but we wish to aid you. Will you accept our aid... and our advice in these matters?"
The Guardians look back and forth. "Please give us some time to discuss this matter," one of them says quietly. "You may wait... outside."
Ganthet nods, and Sayd smiles at them gently, then they turn and leave the chambers. But they know... the first steps have been a victory. They can help the Guardians move back into the proper direction.
"She did not guide us," another Oan argues. "We made the decisions we came to through logic. Her decision-making was not faulty until her corruption was complete and the Blackest Night had begun."
"Her decision-making was not faulty?" Ganthet declares, striding into the room. Sayd is at his side.
The other Guardians gasp. "You have been exiled from this organization!" one of the Guardians declares.
"Does that mean you will not hear us?" Sayd asks gently. "How can you be Guardians of the Universe if you will not hear perspectives from outside your number?"
There's a moment of silence, but eventually one inclines her head towards them. "You may speak."
"The Green Lanterns were battling against those who would be your allies," Ganthet announces. "The Blue Lanterns were created to support the Green Lantern Corps, but they were not accepted. The Star Sapphires could have been united with the Green Lanterns when this war began, but the Corps was battling on all sides, never seeing the approach of Blackest Night. Indeed, by killing your enemies, you made Nekron's assault stronger. She had convinced you that the prophecy was false, but it all came true. All of it. Tell me... where is the rightness of that choice?"
"Would you have us ally with the Sinestro Corps as well?" another Guardian argues. "And the Red Lanterns? That we ally with organizations sworn to destroy us?"
"They had attacked the Corps; an alliance to save the universe may have been required, but joining with such organizations long-term would be folly, I agree." Ganthet frowns. "In addition, realize that you made a deal with Larfleeze... a deal which nearly caused the destruction of one who wanted merely to be your ally. Why? Because you didn't know that you could trust the Blue Lanterns... because they weren't under your control. Have the Guardians truly fallen so far that they wish to become the Controllers now?"
Anger flares up in the Guardians, but then subsides. They cannot argue with the logic he posits. They have been attempting to control, not guard.
"Consider how many good Lanterns you lost when the law forbidding relationships was passed," Sayd adds. "You lost many good Lanterns."
"You lost Hal Jordan," Ganthet argues. "And if we had not given him a green ring, the universe you swore to protect would be gone now."
"You gave him a green ring?" one of the Guardians spits. "On what authority?"
"On the authority that I will do what is necessary to protect the universe when the Guardians fail to do so!" Ganthet replies. "Be angry if you like, but not at us -- at yourselves for making our decision necessary. And by all logical examinations... I am right."
There is a long pause in the chamber. The Guardians look amongst each other nervously.
"You may be right on this point, Ganthet and Sayd," one finally admits. "Perhaps... we have been lax in guardianship."
"Then allow us to assist you," Sayd offers. "We do not wish to return to the Guardians... but we wish to aid you. Will you accept our aid... and our advice in these matters?"
The Guardians look back and forth. "Please give us some time to discuss this matter," one of them says quietly. "You may wait... outside."
Ganthet nods, and Sayd smiles at them gently, then they turn and leave the chambers. But they know... the first steps have been a victory. They can help the Guardians move back into the proper direction.