What Price Hope?

Sector 2261, Planet Mogo, Ruins of Blue Lantern Sanctuary

Saint Walker surveyed the remains of a settlement assembled to house interstellar refugees on Mogo; a settlement once defended by Blue Lanterns like himself when rogue Sinestro Corps members attacked. The conflict was instigated to shatter the morale of the refugees, replacing the hope within them with fear… the source of power for every Lantern clad in the yellow uniform of Sinestro’s finest. Their terrifying assault succeeded… for a while. But the yellow ring-wielders were defeated, their Qwardian soldiers scattered to the four winds.  Slowly, the survivors felt hope in their hearts once again… until the skies turned to gray.  For many, where there was once hope… or fear… or rage… there was only sorrow.

And that feeling, that potent wavelength of the Emotional Spectrum… was growing.  Spreading over the surface of Mogo like a wave, drowning everyone it touches in the depths of their grief. Even some with the strongest wills – Green Lanterns – had fallen to the Gray.  And yet, Walker knew to his very core that the Blue light of Hope would be a beacon to the desperate, a safe harbor for the sorrowful.
 
“Penny for your thoughts, Blue,” came a woman’s voice as Walker approached a gathering of other Lanterns in what was once a command center. He turned to face the speaker – Carol Ferris, one of the Star Sapphires, Lanterns powered by the violet energy of Love.
 
“I was pondering the need for more Blue Lanterns,” Walker said.  “So many of us fell to the enemy forces during the Battle of Mogo… including one whose light shined ever so brightly… Sister Cavalera of Earth.”
 
“Esperanza.  Yes… I was there when it happened,” Carol said, softly. “Her loss hit like a bomb – and her sister Luzia was at ground zero.  It turned her… made her Gray.  And it wasn’t much longer that Mogo went Gray too.”
 
“A fate we could all suffer if we do not find a way to bring Mogo and Luzia back from the depths of their sorrows.” Walker replied. 

“And we could just be the first to fall,” added John Stewart, one of Earth’s Green Lanterns. “Think about it – Mogo is capable of traveling through space at hyperspeed. If a Gray Lantern of his size and power makes it to one of the galactic population centers… or Oa…”
 
“Careful, John,” Carol said, calmly. “That’s the kind of thinking that can put little seeds of despair in your soul… the kind that can turn green… into gray.”
 
“Perhaps we should focus on our efforts to help those in need here on Mogo, my friends,” Walker said. “I’m told evacuation plans will be enacted soon, yes?”
 
“Yeah, we’re on that. Normally, it’d be a walk in the park, but we’re having trouble rounding up the evacuees,” John replied, grimly.  “Since the Gray Wave hit, people are scattered all over Mogo… lost in their grief, paralyzed… or worse.  We’re sending people out to help, but… it exposes them to the Gray and… yeah. We’re running out of time… and Lanterns.”

“Some of our efforts have paid off, though,” Carol said.  “Shutting down the Qwardians and the rogue Sinestro Corps forces took two major sources of sorrow off the playing field here.  Put some of that blue light of yours back in their hearts, Walker.”
 
“Indeed,” Walker replied. “But some sources of grief, misery, and suffering remain… like the missing children… and the undead forces of the Black.”
 
“About that… there’s something strange going on there,” John said. “Normally, Black Lanterns go out of their way to kill folks and add to their ranks, but here?  Now?  They seem to be content to hang back and… let the Gray do their dirty work for them.”
 
“You believe the Black Lanterns allow people to succumb to their sorrow… to make killing them easier?” Walker asked, concern in his voice.
 
“Oh, that’s more than a little creepy, John,” Carol said, visibly shivering. “Thanks for that little dash of nightmare fuel!”

“Sorry, but we need to be realistic about what we’re up against here,” John said.  “The two of you sling rings powered by the emotions we need the most here – hope and love. Call in as many of your Corps members as you can spare – or our troubles are just beginning.”