Episode 61: Authority
Takes place August 21-22.
Short version
Paul recruits Prince Ragnar of Betrassus, who obtained one of the construct-rings, and takes him on a training/bonding mission to Qward, where he recruits Weaponer Kalmin.
Longer version
Paul begins training a class of new Orange Lantern recruits (including Vril Dox), but is interrupted by Lantern Gardner, who informs him of the activities of a rogue Orange Lantern. Prince Ragnar of Betrassus wanted to be a Lantern strongly enough that he attracted one of the construct-rings Paul called out of Larfleeze's cave. However, Ragnar was unaware of the existence of non-green power rings, and is upset to learn that his ring does not make him a Green Lantern.
Pleased with Ragnar's mental stability, Paul recruits him for the Corps by defeating him in an honour duel, but Ragnar is still proud and stubborn, which will impede his effectiveness, so Paul and Lantern Gardner bring him along on a mission to Qward, giving them a chance to bond through combat. They infiltrate the surface and then storm their way into the interior of the planet, where they find Weaponer (formerly Chief Weaponer) Kalmin, who forged Sinestro's yellow ring. Kalmin initially invites them to attack him so he can die honourably in combat, but Paul, who values his ability to forge rings, persuades him to accept a new job fighting the Reach instead. Ragnar is exhilarated by the experience, as well as being impressed by Paul's skill and the capabilities of orange rings, and pledges his loyalty.
In the aftermath, Lantern Tui reveals that Ragnar had been recharging his ring by killing the holders of other construct-rings. Ragnar admits it, but insists that they were all consensual duels, and that he has reconsidered his approach. Noting that Ragnar's behavior changed when the Orange Light Fountain was placed in a proper Central Power Battery casing and therefore he may have previously been under the influence of orange light overload, Paul gives him the benefit of the doubt and sends him to the war effort, but leaves the Green Lantern Corps with the option to prosecute him in the future if they see fit.
The title likely refers to Paul establishing his seniority over Lantern Ragnar.
- Blood Knight: Prince Ragnar. It actually makes him a decent Orange Lantern, since he has simple desires and a strong honour code.
- Brain/Computer Interface: The first thing Vril Dox wants to do once he's settled in on Maltus is plug himself into their data networks and learn as much as possible.
- Comes Great Insanity: The first Orange Lantern Corps training session includes a demonstration of how it's easy to lose oneself to the orange light when you really want something. Lantern Tarant could only manage a weak energy pulse against a target made of concentric circles, but when Paul changed it to a Reach Beetle construct, complete with talking and charging, Tarant promptly blasted it to bits and then just stood there trembling and staring, having totally forgotten that it was a training session.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: In their formal duel, Ragnar simply charges at Paul with a sword. Paul knocks the sword out of his hand, backhands him to the ground, then removes his own armour and rings, and offers to let Ragnar recharge from Paul's personal lantern, before summoning Ragnar's own ring off his finger and applying a construct to his head that temporarily shorts out his motor nerves. Then draws a drop of blood with Ragnar's own sword.Ragnar: You're giving up your rings? Do you yield?
Paul: No. You're a warrior. I'm a philosopher. There is a good deal more to using the orange light than 'screaming and leaping'. You know your desires. I know desire.
Ragnar: And?
Paul: And I will teach that to you. I'm going to take your ring, and beat you with that. Come. - Deadly Euphemism: The Crown Imperium is engaged in "anti-piracy work." Grayven's private interpretation is 'near-genocidal purge'.
- Defeat Equals Friendship: Paul is able to redirect Weaponer Kalmin's qwa-lightning by bonding with the Ophidian. Kalmin is shocked, and starts asking questions, ending up with an orange ring.
- Duel to the Death: Prince Ragnar has been using this to conquer the various clans and unify his nation, as well as hoping to draw the attention of the Green Lantern Corps.
- Fantastic Racism: In a short interlude, an alternate Paul in a Marvel universe contacts Magneto and tells him about the telepathic bacteria that are influencing people to distrust mutants. Paul hopes to find a treatment and eradicate them, allowing public opinion to gradually accept mutants just like any other source of superpowers.
- I Did What I Had to Do: When training new Lanterns, Paul encourages them to remember why they're doing something, so that their desire for the end state can be applied to desiring the actions that lead there.
- Insanity Defense: Ragnar is suspected to have been orange-light-crazy when he dueled other rookie Lanterns to take their ring charge. There may still be repercussions later in the story, but for now he's allowed to stay in the Corps pending Guardian review.
- Mirror Universe: Paul and Lantern Gardner take Ragnar to the anti-matter universe to check on Qward. And observe Ragnar's combat skills and teamwork. And recruit a Weaponer.
- Mundane Solution: Paul and Guy encounter turrets that can shift out of phase to avoid return fire. Paul checks for Nth metal to de-phase them, but doesn't have any, and starts making plans to try each of the phasing frequencies they could be using. Guy just destroys the walls they're mounted on.
- Omnicidal Maniac: The Qwardians' name for themselves, "Q'ardajin", apparently means "people who guide destruction", and they worship the Anti-Monitor, who aims to destroy the multiverse.
- Opponent Instruction: Paul criticizes Ragnar's use of melee weapons ("Fight me like a Lantern"), offers to let him use Paul's personal lantern to recharge his ring if needed, and then proceeds to take off his own rings, announcing that he's going to take Ragnar's ring and beat him with that — which he does. Naturally, it's all about helping Ragnar to be a better recruit.Paul: You're a warrior. I'm a philosopher. You know your desires. I know desire. There is a great deal more to the orange light than screaming and leaping. You know your desires. I know desire.
- Prefers the Illusion: The pilot who takes the Lanterns to Qward has a pretty good idea that they're not the simple traders they claim to be, but he doesn't want to know more.
- The Unpronounceable: Humanoids have a hard time pronouncing Durlan names, plus there's a scent component. The one Paul meets goes by 'Brand' as a substitute.
- Victory by First Blood: Ragnar gets upset by Paul's offer to take him on as a rookie, and challenges him to a duel to prove who is the better Lantern. Paul draws blood very carefully after he knocks Ragnar out.
- Who's on First?: Guy Gardner asks about the new guy.Guy frowns in bewilderment. "Katma doesn't like your guy anymore than I do, but what's that got to do with-?"
"'Guy'?"
"What?"
"No, not Guy. 'Guy'." He blinks, his head tilted slightly to the side. "You said 'my guy'. I'm trying to recruit a Korugarian woman, Doctor Soranik Natu." - Yandere: Miss Amane is assigned to deal with the Dominators at Starlag prison. With a scythe.Amane: Master. I would not have said 'all clear' if there were any left alive.
- You Won't Feel a Thing!: In this case, the variant "This may hurt a little," when Paul is about to demonstrate Crumbler rounds. Apparently there is mildly painful feedback when they destroy constructs.
