@lanternuary Day 3: Lost Lanterns
Though it is fairly common for sapient beings across the universe to celebrate anniversaries of significant events, it's comparatively rare for Green Lanterns to do so. This is not because the Corps tends to select against sentimentality when choosing new recruits, but rather because the organization is made up of members who hail from myriad worlds that each have their own timekeeping systems.
It is for this reason that Hannu of Ovacron VI is surprised when he hears someone knock on the door to his private quarters on Oa and opens it to find Graf Toren standing outside. "Graf? Is something the matter?"
Graf smiles wryly. "No emergency or crisis for once. Just wanted to see if you were up for visiting some old friends."
"Old friends...?" Hannu's stony brow furrows slightly, then rises in surprise. "Has it been a full cycle on Oa already?"
Ovacron VI, Hannu's homeworld, is one of the more distant planets from its parent star. Consequently, it takes quite a long time to complete even a single orbit, and Ovacronites have developed in such a way that other planets' "years" seem incredibly short to them.
"One full rotation around Sto-Oa." Graf confirms. "Though it probably seems like less to you since you lost a few months to that wormhole."
"Kriffin' time dilation." Hannu mutters to himself as he steps out of his quarters and shuts the door. As he falls into step besides Graf, he asks, "Anyone else joining us this time?"
"Lashorr is chasing down pirates and Arisia is overseeing some peace conference in her sector." Graf replies. "I doubt either of them will be back in time to join us."
"And Tomar...?" Hannu knows the answer already, but he asks anyway.
Graf shakes his head. "I tried to convince him, but you know how he is. He refuses to leave Xudar until little Somar is ready to go with him."
"Hmm." Neither of the two speak further as they leave the barracks and arrive at the stairs that lead down into the deep caverns of Oa. They remain silent as they descend into the Crypts, acknowledging Morro with solemn nods.
The journey to the final resting place of the Corps's honored dead is normally a short one with the power of flight granted by their rings. But every Oan year, the remaining Lost Lanterns travel on foot to the Crypt, to remember the years they were imprisoned in the Manhunters' lair with naught but their wits and each other's company as their only strength.
Graf opens the satchel he'd brought and sets down seven candles, lighting each one with a burst of green flame from his ring. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he begins chanting in a low murmur, reciting the funeral prayers of the Karaxian light monks.
Beside him, Hannu stands completely still as he gazes at the glowing holograms of his late comrades. Ovacronites rarely continue to mourn their dead after they are buried, so he settles for mentally reciting their names instead. Kreon. Jack T. Chance. Ke'haan. Laira Omoto. Chaselon. Boodikka. Relok Hag.
Minutes turn into hours as Graf's candles melt down to nothing, each wick flaring brightly before burning out. Only once the last one has extinguished itself does he finally stop chanting and stand up. In a slightly hoarse voice, he tells Hannu, "I tell you every year, you don't have to wait for me to finish."
"And every year I remind you that we all swore an oath on Biot, that we would never leave each other if we could help it."
