7934/Shi'ar: Primordial Forces

Shi'ar: Primordial Forces
Date of Scene:	22 September 2021
Location:	Planet Oa
Synopsis:	In search of answers, John Stewart visits the Guardians of the Galaxy for information about the mysterious Phoenix and the object known as the M'kraan Crystal.
Cast of Characters:	John Stewart, Caitlin Fairchild

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John Stewart has posed:
The hyperspace window the Green Lanterns typically used to get to and from Oa might have been quiet... might have been busy. This solar cycle, one John Stewart has come direct from galaxies away at top speed to talk to the Guardians. He's made pit stops along the way to recharge his ring (It takes a while to cross entire galaxies, even with hyperspace) and the Guardians have had days now to process the information that his ring sent from the ancient quarantined world.

The first Green Lantern in untold centuries to bypass the barrier... and come back.

Right on time for going top speed John comes out of the hyperspace lane...

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
There's always a peculiar sensation when making the exit into the space owned by Oa. Maybe it's something to do with the ring surrendering partial guidance to the beacons scattered through Oan space. Or it's the way that there is nothing-- nothing at all-- for a hundred thousand light years in any direction. Far enough away that no invading force could sneak up behind a nebula, or open a stable transit passage anywhere near Oa's surface. The beacons don't just serve to guide the Lanterns home, they also are ready to alert the monumental war machines that surround Oa, carved from escaped planetoids and turned into mobile weapon platforms. They float dark in space, almost imperceptible except for a chance glance from the naked eye.

<Lantern Stewart.> The voice crackles in John's mind, translated directly from his ring into his thoughts. <Welcome back to Oa. This visit is not on your schedule. Present yourself to Lantern Bergill on arrival.>

The ring receives landing directions and John's path takes him past Oa's sole moon, a combination of research center and artillery platform. Its orbit is entirely too stable and consistent to be a product of anything but deliberate tampering.

When he lands at the barracks for the Lantern Corps, there is another Lantern waiting for him. Bergill the Korbonite strikes an imposing figure at nearly seven feet tall, and with weight to spare.

"<Stewart,>" says Bargill in greeting. The ring translates his words and body language into tones that John can understand. "<You're off-mission. Not due back for months yet. Why have you come back to Oa?>" He folds his arms across his chest, giving John an expectant sort of look.

John Stewart has posed:
For his part, John has no problems with obeying the instrictions; he's been in the Corps long enough to have done this routine countless times by now...

As he lands, John has an unexpectedly serious look to his eyes. Anyone who has been in his campaigns knows this is his 'shit is going down' face, and he keeps it as he address Bargill, even as he offers a handshake, <<I didn't expect to be back so soon either, my friend... but there are matters that I need to talk to the Guardians about directly. One of the other lights has surfaced, and I need answers.>>

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"<Oh.>" The hulking Korbonite scratches under his chin. "<Well I've got no particular orders to stop you,>" he points out. "<But if you go in there and start a party, I'm going to tell anyone who asks that you ducked past me on the way in.>" With no more than that Bergill turns and walks away with a steady *thud* of his hooves on the hard floor below.

John makes his way into the Hall of the Guardians proper. The fortress that is home to the Guardians of the Universe is the size of a city; the enormous facility for the Green Lanterns is a relatively small portion thereof. The ring abruptly relays a course correction to him, taking him off his path to the heart of the fortress and into one of the ancillary chambers.

The room is appointed with the Oan's usual sense of understatement; it's not empty enough to be truly spartan but it lacks any touches that make it feel lived-in. Just another empty room in a fortress of them.

He's bid to wait, but it's not for long. The door slides silently open and three of the Guardians float in on discs of green light. Even up close, it'd take a decidedly keen eye to differentiate one from the other-- short, blue skinned, white hair, and absolutely unreadable expressions.

"I am Master of Rings," the lead one tells Stewart. He gestures to his left. "This is the Chronicler of the Universe." To his right: "This is the Arbiter." The other two Oans merely stare at Stewart, not nodding or offering any greeting.

"Explain your presence here, Lantern Stewart," the Master says, and folds his hands into his sleeves in front of him with an unreadable expression.

John Stewart has posed:
Normally, John would take his time to appreciate the architecture; as an architect himself, exploring alien cultures was a nice side bonus to his work.

Today though... John is here to find some way to get a handle on what has happened in his sector.

Most in the Corps would probably be intimidated by these particular Oans.

Most, but not John. He had enough of that in the marine corps. Instead, he meets the three stare for stare, and adopts a formal military posture to boot, except for sticking out his ring.

Two images pop up. The crystal, and Jean Grey, along with all the readings the scanner in the ring took, "this. My sector is now home to a being of untold power in what appears to be a whole new light I've never heard of." John looks to the Chronicler, "I'm hoping one of you can tell me why my ring database refused to give me information I needed to deal with this."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
The Oans look at one another, and there is a sense of a significant discourse happening. The rings make telepathy easy for even an inexperienced user; for the Oans, literally millions of years old and with the habits of daily use, one wonders what 'dialogue' could look like.

Almost in unison they look back at John, and the Master speaks. "The ring would grant you no tactical data because it is not intended for you to come into conflict with the described entity," he explains. "You will make no effort to harm or attack this creature or the crystalline repository."

The Chronicler speaks next, not missing a beat. "You have encountered an ancient primordial entity known as The Phoenix," the Chronicler says. "The terran female known as Jean Grey is currently the host of that entity. The crystal is closely tied to that creature."

"This information is sensitive," the Arbiter says. His voice is perhaps a shade more gravelly than the other two. "You will find few other Lanterns who are aware of it and we discourage you from discussing it with them. You have demonstrated clear-thinking and sensitivity to strategy in the past. We permit you to know more about The Phoenix and the object catalogued by the Shi'ar as 'M'Kraan Crystal'." Translucent images flicker to life in the space between the Guardians and John, densely packed data and visual aids to confirm they are speaking of the same being and the same crystal repository.

John Stewart has posed:
"I wasn't planning on it." John concedes, "even if I had a reason to attack her, doing so seems like a very good way to provoke a knee jerk defensive reaction... and the force has already proven it will genocide entire species on a whim." John carefully notes as he studies the new information. "It would be like provoking the Hulk; a pointless waste."

Then, John starts to walk around the images, studying Jean Grey in particular, "Am I to stay away from her in general? I think I could establish a friendship with it's host and monitor her. I don't like the idea of simply letting her roam without tracking. I have no psych profile on her yet, but since she's the host, her emotions are likely going to be tightly wound up in activating the Phoenix."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"Yes. The Brood," the trio says in unison. The Chronicler raises his voice slightly. "Do not underestimate the power of this thing," he warns John. "The destruction of the Brood was a relatively *small* task for this entity."

The three look at one another, back again. "A relationship with the host could prove beneficial," the Chronicler states. "As Stewart said, the Phoenix manifests most intently through emotions."

"Yes, but it could paralyze any use of force response if Stewart's sentimentality gets between him and the Phoenix," the Master muses.

"Arbitration: We allow this development of a personal connection. We forbid it continue if your emotional state threatens to compromise your main mission. Is that unclear?" the Arbiter states, looking at John.

John Stewart has posed:
As he listens, John looks to the Oans mid sentence as they bring up 'coulds'

John just narrows his eyes at them, "You've been watching me all my life. I loved the marines... but I still attacked my superior to prevent a massacre despite liking him." He shrugs, "sentiment is part of the human condition, but my mission is the stability and preservation of my sector." As he finishes speaking, he purses his lips briefly...

"If this entity turns chaotic and starts randomly destroying things around her, what are my options?"

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"Run. Flee," the Oans say in unison again.

"The Phoenix is not just powerful, Lantern Stewart," the Chronicler says. "It is a fundamental constant in this universe, like the attraction of mass. It is the predator and all the universe is the prey."

"The Phoenix appears infrequently, and even less so does it choose an avatar," says the Master. "But the power it can bring down is beyond your capacity to understand." It's stated as blunt fact, not an insult. "Your probability of even minutely irritating such a thing is minute."

"There are many worlds besides Earth, Lantern Stewart," adds the Arbiter. "Save the ones you can. They will become refugees, but at least some of your species will be preserved."

John Stewart has posed:
There's a moment as John processes this information. Then, he frown just a bit to the Master, "The entire Corps would be as ants to a boot? That is... surprising." John carefully notes. "But I will keep that in mind. I will start making backup plans in case she goes rogue. I'm going to treat her the same way I would treat Galactus."

He sighs then, and looks to the Arbiter, "Am I to assume that this meeting is classified, and that Hal is not to know of it?"

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"It would be more accurate to say that war with the Phoenix is a scenario that can have no possible winner." Is that a grim expression on Master's face? "The cost for loss or victory would be equally catastrophic."

"The Phoenix and Galactus are quite alike," Chronicler says. "Though it might be proper to refer to Galactus being like the Phoenix. The Phoenix is the embodiment of the predator. Galactus is the embodiment of merely hunger. Hunger is in every living thing, but it is not all things. The very nature of Galactus leaves him subservient to the Phoenix."

"And yes, do not discuss this with other Lanterns," the Arbiter says. "Nor your ... Kryptonian friends. The relationship of the Phoenix to the M'Kraan Crystal is a topic of significant secrecy for Oa's military. Drawing undue attention to the topic creates investigations, mercenaries, explorers. Make it less a secret and more simply nothing of interest."

John Stewart has posed:
"Understood. I was stumbling in the dark on the quarantined planet though. I had no idea what I was getting into, and only barely survived the defenses put in place." He brings up his ring, showing a scan of the complex where the crystal is stored. "I had to assist in destroying those defenses. You may want to consider going there to rebuild them." John informs them, before the hologram winks out and he steps back.

"That was all my concerns as it is. I appreciate the time and clarification. Is there anything else I need to know about this incident, or shall I start heading back to my sector?" John asks.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"They were designed with the intent to be self-repairing, Lantern Stewart," the Arbiter informs him. "And a tool to dissuade ... illiterates who want to risk the gamma particle exposure."

"The radiation in the sector... this was not a deterrent of our making," the Chronicler tells John. "It stems from a crack in the crystal itself. Gamma particles, unchecked, with more power than ten thousand Lantern rings could store."

"It took billions of years for the radiation levels to reach manageable levels," Master says. "Enough for the Shi'ar to develop suitable shielding technology. Be mindful of your ring's alerts." He gestures at John's ring, which blinks vibrantly in response. "Your ring will now alert you to gamma-type radiation events. Unmodulated particle emissions can damage or destroy your ring over time, even with shielding. We recommend caution in the quarantine zone should you find some reason to compel your return." The careful weight of his eyes over those words suggests this not something they encourage.

John Stewart has posed:
"I hope to never have to return there, but it's good to know I'll actually have better tools to survive the trip if I do." John replies as he starts to head for the exit. "Thank you for your time. I need to do some checking on Earth, and I've been away too long already."