Mass Effect: Green Lantern's Light

by InHarmsWay

Instead of dying, Commander Hal Jordan-Shepard is inducted into the Green Lantern Corp. Here he fights forces that threaten the universe while he hurries to go back home to defend his galaxy against the reapers and Blackest Night.

10. Betrayal

Chapter 10: Betrayal

Hal entered Oa's atmosphere. He was tired and in a lot of pain. Even though the blue ring grew his arm back, he could still feel the pain of his arm being slashed off. The broken forearm only compounded the pain. Hal approached a platform and landed. He held up his ring and said, "This is Lantern Shepard. I need medical assistance. Broken arm and rib, cuts, and burns."

Shepard collapsed to his knees and waited until a couple of doctors showed up. They carefully picked him up with a construct hand and carried him to the hospital. They took him to an operating room as soon as possible and went to work in repairing his burns and broken bones. Shepard was immediately anesthetized for them to realign his shattered left arm. The fracture was comminuted and so a section of his bone had to be replaced with synthetic replacements.

A fibre weave was used to reconnect his broken ribs. The doctors both wondered a great deal how these injuries befell this man. While the man's injuries were nowhere near s bad as it was the first time he came to Oa, these injuries will ensure he'll be off duty for a month.

After a short while, the surgery came to an end and the still unconscious Hal Jordan was carried to an unoccupied room where he was placed into a bed.

Sinestro came in shortly after the surgery's end to check up on Hal. He ran into the two doctors just as they were leaving.

"What happened to him?" Sinestro asked the two doctors.

"We don't know," one of them replied. "He came in and called for medical assistance. He suffered comminuted fracture in his left forearm and had to have much of his bones replaced. Commander Shepard also suffered two broken ribs and many burns on his skin. The surgery had just finished."

"How long until he'll be able to return to duty?"

"A month."

Sinestro sighed in annoyance. "And how long till he wakes up?"

"A few hours."

"Thank you, doctor. The Guardians have a lot of questions for the Earthman."

"We'll notify you if there are any changes."

VVVVVV

Shepard groaned as his eyes opened up. There was still pain in his left arm and rib. His skin where the burns once were was still sensitive to touch. It was a chore to try and sit up.

"Shepard you shouldn't pushed yourself," a familiar voice cautioned him.

Hal stopped his attempts at sitting up and looked in the direction of the voice. A smile came to his face. "Arisia! You're okay!"

Arisia wore a neck brace. She was still healing from her injuries. Arisia walked over to him, gave him a hug and said, "Thanks to you."

Shepard bowed his head solemnly and replied, "That's not true. You were nearly choked to death. I couldn't stop that ball-shaped alien from nearly killing you."

"But you stopped him from actually killing me. I was out for a week with injuries. I'm fine. I have you to thank for that. You saved me and this Corps. I heard about what happened when I was unconscious."

"Agent Orange?"

"A week has barely passed since the end of the war against the Red Lanterns and another starts up against an Orange Lantern."

"It seems like this universe is going from one crisis to another."

"Sadly it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better," Shepard muttered.

"What do you mean?" Arisia stuttered.

"Can't explain now. I have to speak with the Guardians first. I have a lot of questions to ask them."

"There will be time for that, but first you need to get some rest. It'll be a while before you can leave this room. Roughly the same amount of time before I can get this neck brace off." Arisia tapped the brace. "Though I feel bad that I was left out of the war with Agent Orange."

"You were unconscious," Shepard chuckled. "There is nothing you could do about that."

"Yeah," she reluctantly admitted. "Ch'p told me you became a hybrid Lantern after the battle with the Reds."

"Part Green Lantern, part Blue Lantern. With that power, I was able to defeat Atrocitus."

"How did that happen?"

"I thought you were dead," he said. "I flew into a rage at your loss."

Arisia bit her lower lip when he admitted this. It was... touching to hear he was so concern over her well-being.

"That proved to be my undoing. A red ring detected the rage within my heart and took me over. I lost all control over myself. In the haze of rage, I killed the one who I thought killed you. Saint Walker from the Blue Lanterns commanded his ring to go on my finger in hopes of breaking the red ring's hold on me. Luckily it worked, and it transformed me into a hybrid. I defeated Atrocitus and the war was over. After the end of the war, the Corps tried to get the blue ring with no success. That was when Agent Orange attacked us, thinking the Controllers who attacked him were the Guardians. We then fought back on his homeworld."

"I heard over a dozen Lanterns were killed in the assault on Agent Orange's homeworld."

"Yeah," Shepard said. "He was just so powerful."

"Yet, I heard you took him on almost single-handily."

"With help from Saint Walker we were able to defeat him. The ring apparently needed to register me having hope, and when I had hope in my heart; the ring was unlocked at its true potential allowing me to finish Larfleeze off. Did Agent Orange contact the Guardians?"

"He did," Arisia answered. "They set up a new treaty, though I don't know the terms. Though from what I've heard, he was very eager to make a new treaty. Tell me, Shepard. What happened after that? We were told by Ganthet you were on your way, but you were gone for over a day and get here with serious injuries."

"I-I can't answer that right now." Shepard let out a loud cough. "I had to find an answer to a question."

"And did you find it?"

"Part of it."

"Just a part of it?"

"Yes. The Guardians have the last part."

VVVVVV

A week has passed since Shepard's return. Oa was extremely busy in repairing the damages that the Red Lanterns wrought on them and the mass influx of Green Lantern recruits. There were too many for Kilowog to handle and so the most experienced Lanterns were volunteered to help train the new recruits.

While not healed enough to go back to training, he has healed enough to go to the debriefing with the Guardians and explain what happened. Hal walked into the chamber confidently. He was anxious to get the answers he desperately needed. In attendance in the chamber were the Guardians and the most prominent Green Lanterns.

"It is good to see you have recovered from your injuries, Commander," Ranakar said. "But we must ask what happened during your personal fight with Agent Orange and the time after."

"I have questions to ask as well, but I will explain what happened with Agent Orange first," Hal said. "I went to the Blue Lantern homeworld of Odym and with Saint Walker's help, we fought against Larfleeze. The battle was fairly one sided as our attacks did little to slow him down. But I refused to give up. The blue ring recognized the hope in my heart as genuine and unlocked its full potential, giving me the strength to beat Larfleeze into submission. The blue ring left my hand after the battle because of this. I heard a new treaty was signed."

"Yes," Scar said. "One that we benefitted from. Whatever you did, your display of power made Larfleeze afraid of attacking our Corps again. He was more than willing to accept our terms. But you didn't come back to Oa until a day after the battle. According to Ganthet, you left shortly after the battle and he didn't mention that you sustained heavy injuries. Where were you?"

"I went to Sector 666," Shepard answered directly and honestly.

The room filled with chatter. The Lanterns were unaware of such a sector and the Guardians were debating what had just occurred.

"Why did you go there, who told you about it?" Scar demanded.

"Atrocitus told me about what happened in the sector. I had to find out for myself what really happened there. Technically the sector is forgotten, not forbidden."

"Do you think that distinction will make any difference in your punishment?"

"No, but what I've discovered will. I was on Ryut, the homeworld of Atrocitus. There I encountered a Manhunter."

While the Guardians were supposedly emotionless beings, Shepard could swear he could see fear in their eyes.

"That's impossible," Appa Ali Apsa muttered.

"There was just one and it was badly damaged, but it was still powerful enough that it nearly killed me," Hal said. "I barely defeated it. From the Manhunter I was able to discover some very disturbing news. The massacre of Sector 666 was not an accident or the result of a glitch. The one responsible for the Manhunter rebellion and the massacre was Krona."

"K-Krona..." Ranakar repeated. "That cannot be."

"Who is Krona?" Tomar-Re asked the chamber.

"We cannot hide this," Ranakar sighed. "Krona was, like us, a maltusian. He was the most intelligent man who has ever, or ever will, existed. As our people continued to evolve, we thought of what are our roles within this universe. We sought out to become protectors of this universe and enforced laws and created an army to enforce these laws. Krona rejected the idea of being a Guardian and continued his research and went into a field that was forbidden by our laws."

"What did he do?" Hal asked.

"Krona broke the most sacred of laws. He created a device that allowed him to see the birth of the universe. A horrible consequence of his experiments was the increased entropy of the universe. Its maximum age has decreased by one billion years because of it."

"And the creation of the anti-matter universe," Appa added.

"Do you have evidence that Krona was behind the massacre?" Scar asked Hal.

"I downloaded the Manhunter's memory," Shepard replied. He quickly replayed the video footage.

"Then it is true," Ranakar said.

"What happened to Krona and the Manhunters?"

"Krona was transformed into energy and that energy was spread across the universe never to reform again. The Manhunters had their abilities stripped from them and then were banished to the outer skirts of the universe."

"You let them go?" Shepard yelled. "After destroying an entire sector?"

"We could hardly imprison them for an eternity and their destruction would be an act of genocide."

"That decision leads to my other discovery," Shepard continued. He was furious at the decision concerning the Manhunters. "The Manhunters never did leave to their exile. They simply hid and evolve."

"What are you talking about?" Ranakar demanded.

"After I downloaded the memories of the Manhunter, it reactivated, but it wasn't a Manhunter. It was a reaper. It called itself Harbinger. Your Manhunters are continuing their killing spree, but in my galaxy!"

The chamber was silent.

"Could everyone please leave their chamber for a moment," Ranakar announced, breaking the silence.

The Lanterns immediately followed his order and left the chamber. Hal was the last to leave but not before giving the Guardians one last defiant glance. Upon leaving the chamber, Hal was immediately confronted by the other Lanterns.

"That was an extremely stupid thing you did, poozer," Kilowog said. His tone wasn't angry. Just... tired.

"I had to know," Hal said.

"You could have gotten killed," Boodikka said.

"I know that. But knowing the origins of the reapers only helps me. Even if the Guardians kick me out of the Corps, this information is priceless to my galaxy. I'll accept that."

"Better hope that expulsion is the worst thing they'll do to you," Ch'p said.

"I doubt they will," Sinestro said. "Technically Jordan didn't break any laws or rules. He found a loophole. Though the Guardians, may not see it that way."

The doors of the chamber opened and Salaak peaked out. "You all may come back in. The Guardians have reached a decision."

The Lanterns walked back into the chamber. Hal stood at the center where the Guardians looked down upon him.

"Hal Jordan-Shepard," Scar stated. "In many occasions you have defied our rulings and rebelled against our authority at your own discretion..."

"But in each occasion, it was with the intention of saving us and the Corps for which you stand for," Ranakar finished. "Your actions, while brash, have proven to be necessary to save untold number of lives. It is also through your actions were you able to solve a billion year old mystery."

"It is through your actions, were you able to fulfill the line in your oath that 'no evil shall escape your sight,'" Appa added. "That is why the Guardians will not punish you for going to Sector 666. We have also decided to increase your training regime so that you may return to your galaxy sooner. Salaak will also start work on creating probes which we can use to communicate with your galaxy through the interference."

"Knowing that the reapers and the Manhunters are one and the same is a shocking and disturbing revelation that must be addressed as soon as possible. Once Salaak finds a way to open communication with your galaxy, you will be free to return there."

To say Shepard was in shock was an understatement. The announcement was great news. For a while it seemed like he was stuck on Oa with no way to go home, but now it seems like getting back home was within his grasp.

"Thank you, Guardians," Shepard said humbly.

"Once your injuries have fully healed, you will be able to continue your advance training and be able to assist other Lanterns in their missions. All Lanterns are dismissed."

The Lanterns left the chambers leaving the Guardians to themselves. "It appears Ganthet was right," Appa said. "The reapers must become a priority of our attention."

"Agreed," Ranakar said. "I do not know what the Manhunters are planning but it will likely prove to be disastrous for the universe. What I don't understand is why they are harvesting just one galaxy?"

"Doesn't anyone else here think Shepard's galaxy is highly usual?" Appa said.

"What do you mean?" Scar asked.

"Have any of you heard of a galaxy with these many races within it? Including the space faring races and the races still on their own worlds, there must be at least several dozen races. Maybe more. The average inhabitant galaxy throughout the universe usually only contains a few races at any given time. This is why our Corps has been successful at policing each sector with one Lantern."

"It is an anomaly," Ranakar admitted. "For now it will merely be a curiosity. I wish we were able to send a Lantern to the Milky Way galaxy, but this galaxy has been in isolation for the last billion. Having any other Lantern make contact with this galaxy than Hal Jordan, could result in aggressive action against any member of our Corps."

"Agreed," Appa said. "Hal will be our agent in the Milky Way. For now."

VVVVVV

Shepard flew through the corridor of sciencells. As happened before, the inmates yelled at the Lantern, demanding they be released or threatening to kill him. Shepard was focused on where he needed to be. He went directly to Atrocitus' cell. Hal saw Atrocitus kneeling, facing away.

"Atrocitus."

"Have you found answers to your questions?" he asked.

"I have."

Atrocitus rose up and approached the viewport. "Then why do you still wear that ring if you consider yourself to be a good man?"

"You were right and wrong."

"Explain!" Atrocitus hissed.

"I went to your home of Ryut. I saw the devastation. When I was there, I was ambushed by a Manhunter."

Atrocitus' eyes widen at the mention of the foe.

"I was able to defeat it, but when I did, I downloaded all of its memories and data. The Manhunters going rogue wasn't a glitch. Your Sector was intentionally wiped out, but not by the order of the Guardians."

"What?" Atrocitus yelled.

"A rogue maltusian scientist, Krona, reprogrammed the Manhunters as revenge against the Guardians. I have seen the records from the Manhunter. It is conclusive. Your anger has been misdirected all this time."

"Krona will pay!"

"According to the Guardians, Krona had his physical form stripped for his crimes and his energy was scattered across the universe as punishment. There's no one left for you to direct your rage at." Jordan started to walk away but not before he said, "You were right about the reapers. They are the Manhunters. They somehow evolved and are just focusing on my galaxy. I don't know why, but I intend to find out."

Atrocitus watched Hal Jordan fly away. Right away he cut his hand and splattered blood all over the floor of his cell. "With blood and rage of crimson red, ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, together our hellish hate, we'll burn you all-that is your fate!"

The blood started to move. The pool of blood formed into shapes creating a picture of what is to come. Atrocitus jumped to his feet when he saw what was before him. The blood formed into the shape of a being dressed in a cloak with chains that came from him. At the end of each chain was an emotional entity. Before the cloaked figure and the entities were the reapers. Lines were connected between the reapers and the emotional entities.

"My vengeance is far from over."

VVVVVV

Shepard and Tali stood inside a green energy bubble in space viewing a planet below. The two held hands as they viewed the planet below.

"Keelah, Hal, is that really..." Tali muttered.

"It's Rannoch, Tali," Shepard said. He held up his ring hand up and the green ring glowed. "With the ring the Guardians of the universe have provided me, I was able to kick the geth off of your homeworld. Your people can return to your homeworld. I did it all for you."

"Hal, I can't believe you did this," she cooed. "You've saved my people. I-I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"Just being with you is all the thanks I need."

Tali cocked her head to the right and placed her left hand on his cheek. "You sweet, sweet man. There must be something I can do."

"Well... The inside of this energy bubble is sterilized," Shepard said with a grin.

"And I took some anti-biotics and some herbal supplements," she said amusedly. Tali laughed under her breath. "I wonder if they're connected." With those words she slowly grabbed Hal's hands and directed them to the sides of her mask.

Tali's hands left his as his fingers searched for the buttons to release the faceplate of her helmet. Finally he felt the buttons he was searching for. He smiled widely. Finally he would see the face of the woman he longed for. But before he was able to press down on the button, Tali brought up her right hand and flicked Hal in the face.

"Tali, what-?"

"Wake up!"

Shepard was lying in his bed and the end of a stick was poking his face. He grumbled as the stick end poked him. Shepard waved his hand and mumbled, "Mmmm, stop flicking my face, Tali. I just want to kiss yoooou."

"Wake up, Commander Hal Jordan-Shepard," the person with the stick said.

Shepard slowly opened his eyes and saw someone standing at the end of his bed. His heart started beating at a rapid pace. He activated his ring and the green energy surrounded his body forming his suit. Shepard jumped to his feet on his bed and aimed his ring at the person.

"Who the hell are you?" Shepard demanded.

"Nok, Commander Shepard," the woman said. The top of her stick started glowing bright purple. The light revealed to Shepard who was in his room. The woman before him had redish-purple skin. She wore what could be described as purple tribal clothing with a long loin cloth and a one piece fabric that covered her upper chest. Her eyes were black and had cornrow hair. The ends of her long hair had beads. She had a tattoo on her forehead that matched the symbol on her shirt's chest. The symbol was an arch arrow that point up and another arrow that pointed down forming an incomplete diamond. In the center of the two arrows was a circle. "I am Indigo-1."

Shepard saw the purple ring on her finger. "You're a Lantern."

"In a manner of speaking, yes," she replied. "I am from the Indigo tribe. Will you please lower your ring? I mean you no harm."

Shepard reluctantly lowered his ring. "Why are you here?"

"I came to speak to you about Blackest Night."

"You know about it?"

"We were formed to help you stop it."

"I don't understand."

Indigo-1 walked over to Shepard and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nok."

Shepard was then blinded by a bright purple light. When the light finally died down he found himself in the middle of a jungle.

"What the hell? Where are we?"

"Our world," Indigo-1 answered.

Shepard found himself surrounded by the other Indigo tribesmen.

"Nok!" they all greeted.

"Follow me, Commander," Indigo-1 said. She walked through the jungle and Shepard followed behind.

"How did we get here?"

"Our ring allows for instant teleportation. Now please follow me."

"How do you know of Blackest Night?"

"When Abin Sur learned of Blackest Night from Atrocitus, he took steps to prepare for it."

They exited the jungle into a clearing. In the clearing was an Aztec-like temple.

"He feared of the possibility that he would die before Blackest Night began, so he built an army to fight and stop it. We are that army."

Shepard and Indigo-1 entered inside the temple. The corridor led to a chamber where a bright purple light emanated.

"Why tell me any of this?" Shepard asked. "Why not go to the Guardians?"

"You wear Abin Sur's ring," she answered as they entered the chamber. Inside Shepard saw the indigo central battery. On the walls were crude carvings that depicted events that had happened and events that have yet to happen. "You are the one the prophecy foretold." Indigo placed her ring up against the battery lens. "Tor lorek san, bor nakka mure, Natromo faan tornek wot ur. Ter Lantern ker lo Abin Sur, Taan lek lek nok, Formorrow Sur!" The battery lens flashed signifying that her ring was recharged. Once the ring was charged, the carvings on the wall changed.

Shepard noticed at the beginning of the carvings it showed Abin Sur speaking with Atrocitus. The next scene depicted Abin Sur being attacked and killed by the ship that attacked the Normandy. A flash of yellow is show behind him. The scene that followed showed Hal putting the ring on becoming the new Green Lantern. The next scene depicted Shepard victorious against a large red figure and another fight with an orange figure.

"I can see that's me fighting Atrocitus and Larfleeze, but what's that?" Shepard asked pointing to the next image. This image showed Shepard fighting against a yellow entity. Instead of the fight being even between the two, it showed Shepard being overwhelmed by the yellow.

"The wall continues to update as the events unfold," Indigo explained. "What you see there is an event that has yet to occur."

"Am I... supposed to die?"

"That remains to be seen. This wall is ever changing."

"Wait, how is this a prophecy wall is it changes?"

"Everything has unfolded as foreseen, but after your fight with Agent Orange the prophecy becomes less clear. Your fate and the fate of the Green Lantern Corps is unknown. But this I know." Indigo swung her staff and shone light on a section of the wall that was hidden from eyesight. The scene showed silhouettes of reapers descending upon a white light. "Blackest Night will descend upon this universe, and you and your galaxy is at the epicenter of these events."

"I've been made aware of Blackest Night by Ganthet, Indigo, but I'm still not getting is why you have come to me."

"Abin Sur took steps to prepare for Blackest Night. We are a part of that legacy. Now you are the sole inheritor of that legacy." Indigo kneeled before Shepard and said, "In the coming Blackest Night, we are yours to command to ensure the survival of this universe."

'I-I have an army?' Hal thought.

Indigo got back to her feet and gently grabbed Hal's ring hand. She brought it up and held her ring near his. A small purple spark jumped from her ring to his.

"You will now be able to contact us, wherever you may be. In your time of need, call and we will answer. We brought you here to tell you that. And to warn you of what is to come. Tell the Guardians if you may, but they will not find us. This world is hidden from them, just as your galaxy was hidden from them." Indigo brought up her staff. "Now you must return back to Oa." The light at the top flashed blinding Hal Jordan again.

When Shepard's vision returned, he found himself back in his room. The sun was just rising over the horizon. Indigo wasn't there with him. He brought his hand to his face as a headache came upon him at the thought of having to explain this situation to the Guardians.

VVVVVV

Since her failure to recover Shepard's body, Liara focused solely on getting her revenge against the Shadow Broker. It's all she has left at this point. Shepard is dead and never coming back. The Council has completely buried the reapers which are seen as nothing more than myths thought up by Shepard. At this point she is powerless to make a difference in the reaper war, or at least a meaningful difference.

The door of her office opened. Nyxeris walked in with a data pad in hand. Liara looked up from her console and said, "Yes, Nyxeris?"

"Your contact within the Alliance has produced some... interesting information."

"What kind of information?"

"According to the informant, Shepard is alive."

Liara launched out of her chair and slammed both of her hands on her desk and yelled, "What? How is that even possible?"

"I don't know, Miss T'Soni. But the data the informant provided seems very conclusive."

"What data and where was this data found?"

"It's two audio messages supposedly sent to a quarian, her name is..." Nyxeris looked at the data pad. "Tali'Zorah. She forwarded the two audio messages to the Alliance through Operations Chief Ashley Williams. As far as the informant can tell, the messages are genuine."

"Tali? Pass me the data pad. I want to hear the two messages and then please leave my office so I may listen to them in private."

"Of course," Nyxeris said as she handed over the data pad. She quickly left the office to give Liara her privacy.

Liara immediately played the two audio messages. Just hearing his voice made her gasp. The message was distorted, but it was unmistakable. It was Commander Shepard. Still alive. Liara listened to the two messages again just to overcome her shock.

While the messages were not enough to let Liara truly know Shepard's status, it was enough to renew her hope and convince her that he is still alive. Once the initial shock wore off, her information broker mentality reared its head. This data was priceless in its importance. Shepard said in his message that he stopped a couple of wars and found the origin of the reapers. The origin.

Liara imagined this might be the reason why he vanished. Finding the origin of the reapers would prove instrumental in defeating the reapers. She tapped on her console and said, "Nyxeris, I want you to get every available agent on hand to look into this. I want to know about any war that nearly broke out. I want Shepard found as soon as possible."

"Yes, m'am," Nyxeris answered back through the console.

Liara let out a breath and felt like a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. All this time she felt like the galaxy was doomed and that Feron's capture was in vain. With Shepard alive and still fighting for the sake of the galaxy, she knew she also had to continue her fight.

VVVVVV

Several months later...

Sinestro and Shepard were flying through space. They were responding to a hostage situation. An intergalactic warrior by the name of "Bolphunga The Unrelenting" placed bombs all over a city and threatened to set them off unless the greatest Green Lantern in the universe showed up to fight him in one-on-one combat.

"When we get there, Jordan, I'll take care of Bolphunga," Sinestro said. "You take care of finding and deposing of the bombs he has placed around the city."

"Got it. Has the Corps had problems with this guy before?"

"The brute is a hunter of warriors. He has killed several Lanterns before. We have tried to take him in before, but he knows how to hide and when to strike."

"This is our chance to take him in."

"Exactly. But know that he is not to be underestimated. I may say he's a brute, but he is a cunning brute." Sinestro spotted a planet ahead. "We're here."

Sinestro and Shepard approached the planet which Bolphunga designated as the place of combat, and where the city of hostages was located. They flew to the battle site and saw Bolphunga preparing his weapons. He had a wide array of guns, explosives and melee weapons ready for use.

Bolphunga was as Hal imagined him to be. He was at least twelve feet in height with a large build. His most distinct features were his fin-like ears and the scar from his left-side upper lip to his left cheek. The armour he wore was mostly metallic and had different sections to protect different parts of his body. It resembled roman gladiator armour. On his left arm was a gauntlet with a red crystal ball on its front. The gauntlet was large to the point that Hal surmised that it's used for defensive purposes, like a shield. On Bolphunga's left shoulder was the large jaw bone of a previous target of Bolphunga.

"I am Bolphunga The Unrelenting!" he announced as he sheathed a sword behind his back.

"I know who you are, brute," Sinestro sighed. "I am here like you requested. Now release the hostages and I'll show you what the best Lantern in the universe can do."

Bolphunga looked irritated by Sinestro's declaration. "No. You are not the one I asked for."

"You asked for the greatest Green Lantern!" Sinestro yelled. "I am here."

Bolphunga let out a guttural laugh. "Maybe you were once, but not anymore." He pulled out his sword and pointed it at Shepard. "You are the one I demanded."

"Me?" Shepard said.

"Him?" Sinestro seethed with anger. "He's a new recruit. I have been a Green Lantern for over a decade!"

"Yet look at his achievements," Bolphunga reminded him. "He is responsible for defeating the Red Lanterns and Agent Orange."

"How do you know any of that?"

"I have sources. Call me a brute all you want, but I research my targets before I go on the hunt. I also know this... human is from a hidden galaxy. That peaks my interest greatly. Commander Shepard is a well-respected soldier in his galaxy and saved his galaxy without the help of a power ring. I don't think you can claim as much, Sinestro."

"Bastard!" Sinestro roared as he charged forth with his ring glowing brightly. A maze construct took form and ready to strike as Sinestro flew forward.

As Sinestro charged, Bolphunga pulled out a metal ball and held it out. Before Sinestro could strike him, Bolphunga pressed a button on the ball causing it to emit a wave of yellow light. The mace construct shattered to pieces and Sinestro fell to the ground as his flight ability was stripped. He jumped to his feet and looked up at Bolphunga in shock. Bolphunga laughed and then backhanded Sinestro. The blow launched Sinestro back and landing on the ground before Shepard.

Shepard crouched down and tried to help Sinestro to his feet. Sinestro swatted him away and got up himself. "What was that?" Sinestro demanded.

"A little something I had some egghead make for me," Bolphunga answered. He held the sphere up. "This sphere emits high-energy waves that are yellow. It's strong enough to weaken constructs. Even destroy them."

"RING DOWN TO 73 PERCENT POWER," Sinestro's ring said.

"Another added benefit," Bolphunga chuckled. "The energy waves drain your power ring. How do you think I killed the previous Green Lanterns? Now I'll repeat myself. I came here to fight Commander Shepard." Bolphunga pulled out his detonator. "I'm willing to fight this match one-on-one, but going back on this requirement will result in the deaths of those civilians. Tell me, Sinestro. Do you wish to push this?"

Sinestro bared his teeth at him.

Hal placed a hand on his shoulder. "I have this Sinestro. Go save that city."

Sinestro was hesitant to leave, but he knew that Bolphunga had the advantage. "Just don't screw this up. Too many lives ride on this."

Hal nodded and turned to face Bolphunga. Sinestro blasted off and flew to the city as fast as he could.

"By the time he finds all the bombs, you'll be long dead, Commander. I do plan on making a trip to your galaxy. The krogan seem like they would make a good challenge."

"Who told you about me?" Shepard asked.

"I never got his name. Didn't even see his face, but he told me all about your achievements. I have been dying to face you since."

"Well, here I am." Shepard ran forward and launched an energy blast at Bolphunga.

Energy waves came forth from the metal sphere. The energy blasts dissipated as the wave went by them. Bolphunga placed the sphere at his side and pulled out his sword. He charged forward and swiped at Hal. Shepard dodged the strike. He struck back with a punch to Bolphunga's face.

Bolphunga smiled. He swung his arm and struck Hal sending him into the table covered in weapons. Another energy wave came forth from Bolphunga's sphere.

"ENERGY LEVEL DOWN TO 67 PERCENT," Hal's ring announced.

Bolphunga charged at Hal with his sword ready to strike. Hal grabbed a sword and rolled out of the way. He got to his feet and went on the defensive as he redirected Bolphunga's blows. Hal was nowhere near strong enough to take his strength on directly, even with his power ring.

'I will never complain about Boodikka's lessons ever again,' Hal thought to himself.

Another wave of energy came forth from the sphere.

"ENERGY LEVEL DOWN TO 32 PERCENT."

As Hal deflected Bolphunga's blows a realization came to him. The sphere only worked in intervals. It would only emit an energy wave every other minute instead of when a power ring is in use.

'Just need to time it.'

The sphere emitted an energy wave.

"ENERGY LEVEL DOWN TO 1 PERCENT."

Hal took the opportunity and fired an energy blast square in Bolphunga's chest. The blast knocked him away.

"ENERGY LEVEL DOWN TO ZERO PERCENT."

Hal's uniform vanished. Bolphunga looked up at him and laughed. "Just one chance to take me down and you squandered it." He got to his feet.

"My attack wasn't to take you down. It was to distract you." Hal held up the metal sphere.

Bolphunga eyes widen upon seeing it and quickly reach for his side where his sphere once was.

"I took it just before I blasted you," he said. Shepard dropped the sphere to the ground and stabbed it with his sword, splitting it in half. He then dropped his sword. Shepard reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out his power battery.

Bolphunga realized what was going to happen. He charged forward with his sword in hand.

Hl placed his ring against the lens and started his oath. "In Brightest Day, in Blackest Night, no evil shall escape my sight." Bolphunga was closing the distance to strike Hal down. Just a few more steps. "Let those who worship Evil's might, beware my power-"

Bolphunga got within striking distance and raised his sword and roared, "Die!"

"Green Lantern's light!"

A green energy wave came forth from Hal as he finished his oath blowing Bolphunga away. As the dust settled, Hal stood there in his Green Lantern uniform. There was a green aura around his body. Bolphunga was a small distance away from him. His sword was gone and he looked battered. Bolphunga rolled over and looked at Shepard. "Best... fight of... my life."

Hal approached him and created construct restraints for Bolphunga. They wrapped around his wrists, hands, legs and feet. "You're under arrest, Bolphunga."

"I see you managed to take care of things here," Sinestro muttered.

Shepard looked up and saw Sinestro.

"I managed to pacify him and take him captive," Shepard reported.

"I took care of the bombs. Each and every one of those bombs had the potential to wipe out the entire city. I collected them and threw them out into space to be destroyed."

"Had to make sure the bombs couldn't be simply swept away," Bolphunga said. "Hostages make the best bait for Lanterns. Maybe if you were a better Lantern, Sinestro, you could have caught me sooner."

Sinestro aimed his power ring and fired. Bolphunga's head was blown apart. It happened so fast that Hal took a few moments to comprehend what just happened.

"What the hell did you do?" Shepard yelled.

"I eliminated filth from this universe," Sinestro answered coldly. He balled his fists. "This is s symptom of the Corps' decay! In just this year alone the Corps came close to collapsing on two separate occasions. They happened within a couple weeks of each other. You say the way this brute acted in our presence. Arrogant, disrespectful! I remembered a time when Green Lanterns were seen with reverence. Now we have grown weak and the Guardians have forgotten what it's like to be out in the galaxy. Within our oath it states: beware our power. But no criminal in this universe fears us!" Sinestro shot a blast at a rock. "We capture one criminal, and two take his place." He shot another. "We destroy one gang and several take its place. It is never ending. I dream of a universe where order is achieved and Lanterns re respected. A universe where criminals fear us."

"You don't get peace through fear."

"Of course you do. They hit hard, I hit harder. They attack, I annihilate them. The merciless deserve no mercy."

"I knew of an individual who thought like you. He saw something terrible coming our way, and the only way he could think of to save the galaxy was to appease it. He tried spreading fear of their coming as a rallying cry to his cause."

"I am nothing like Saren. He tried to appease evil. I intend to destroy it. To think anyone would mistaken you as the greatest Lantern just shows how far we've fallen. You are too damn green to truly understand what a Green Lantern must go through from day to day." Sinestro started to fly away.

"Where are you going?" Shepard asked. "And what the hell am I supposed to tell the Guardians?"

"Where I am going is none of your concern," Sinestro answered. "I have duties of my own to attend to. As for what to tell the Guardians... Tell them he died in the fight. They won't prod any further."

Hal watched Sinestro leave and he felt a chill run down his back. Something is not right. He created a coffin for Bolphunga and sent it off towards Oa with a message simply stating there was an urgent matter he had to look into before he came back.

Shepard flew from the planet. He needed to investigate Sinestro's homeworld. The man made frequent trips there with a determined look on his face. The trip took a couple of hours as he flew across the cosmos and used several wormholes, both of his creation and the artificially created by civilians and merchants.

Upon reaching his final destination, Hal turned his suit to stealth mode. All the green from his suit vanished, replaced by black. He no longer glowed. In this state, his powers were weaker, but he was basically hidden from detection. Hal flew to one of the biggest cities on the world. As he approached, he used his ring to disguise himself as a local. Hal landed in an alley. His disguise was complete.

Shepard walked out of the alley and wondered the streets. He didn't know what he was looking for; a sign to prove his fears, or maybe nothing to put his worries to rest. The buildings looked like they are still recovering from a brutal war. They were stained and had evidence of bullet holes and blast craters.

It didn't take Hal long to find what he was looking for. Hal entered the city square and saw banners adorn the buildings. On each banner was the Green Lantern emblem and inside the center circle was the image of Sinestro. Under the emblem were the words: Fear his power. A statue of Sinestro stood in the center of the square. It was easily over twenty feet high.

'What have you done, Sinestro,' Shepard thought.

"Down with the oppressor!" several people screamed.

The shouts drew Hal's attention and he saw protestors with picket signs with Sinestro's face with Xs over his face. They threw garbage and rotten food at the statue.

"Don't bend to fear!"

Just then several military vans pulled up and riot police poured out. Hal just watched as they approached the protestors and started beating them. His conscience demanded that he do something. If he used his power ring, he could alert Sinestro to his presence. He needed to improvise.

While the police weren't looking, Shepard used two biotic throws on a couple of their vans. The attacks pushed the vans over creating a disturbance and distracting the military police. During this distraction, the protestors escaped from their tormentors. Shepard breathed a sigh of relief as he watched them get away.

That relief was stifled when one of the MPs called out to him, "You! Civilian! Did you see what happened to our vehicles?"

"I just saw them tip over," Shepard lied. "Like some strong wind hit them."

The officers looked at each other. They moved towards Hal. "We're taking you in for questioning."

Hal backed away slowly with his hands up passively. "There's no reason to do that, officers. I'm just enjoying a walk."

"Well, let's walk down to the station."

Shepard knew that there was no getting out of this. He threw a weak shockwave to knock the officers down as he made a getaway.

"Get that man!" the police captain ordered.

Shepard ran down the alleyways with the police close behind him. The alleys zigzagged making it very maze-like. Eventually Hal found himself at a dead end. He was hoping to investigate more, but he had no choice but to use his ring. Just when he was about to use it, he was suddenly pulled back into a hidden room. The door closed behind him.

The police officers reached the dead end and found no evidence where the rebel may have gone.

"It looks like he got away," one of them muttered.

"We'll find him eventually," the captain assured him.

Hal watched the police leave. He spun around to see who grabbed him and found civilians. The one who grabbed him was a woman who wore a black skin-tight suit.

"That was too close," the stranger muttered. "Idiot. What were you thinking?"

"Those protestors were being beaten senselessly. I couldn't just stand there. Also how do you know what happened?"

"We have eyes and ears everywhere. I don't know how you did what you did, but now that you openly interfered with the police, they will be looking for you."

"Who are you people? Who are you?"

"We are the resistance," she answered. "We fight to end Sinestro's oppression on our world. As for me, you should know as my name has been blemished. I am Arsona, the former officer of Sinestro."

"What exactly happened here? What has Sinestro done?"

Arsona and the other rebels looked at Hal in bewilderment. "Have you been under a rock for the last five years?"

"Let's just go with yes," Shepard said.

"You are odd stranger. I don't know where you have been all this time to avoid the conflict, but I envy you. Our world has been at war for years. Nothing seemed to change as each side was always at a stalemate. But one day things changed. Sinestro received a power ring and was inducted into the Green Lantern Corps. He came back here and vowed to end the world that plagued our world. He asked for my help to gain support from the other Korugarians. I believed in his vision, but I eventually saw what he was doing to our people. His grip became tighter over time until it has become this full-blown dictatorship you see now. We cannot call for help. Our people are at his mercy. We fight against his oppression, but there is only so much we can do. He is nigh unstoppable with his power ring."

"Not for any longer," Hal said. He allowed his disguise to vanish to the surprise of the rebels.

"Y-You're a Green Lantern," she gasped.

"I felt like there was something wrong about Sinestro, but I didn't think it would be of this level. I plan to report this to the Guardians. Sinestro will have his ring stripped and be punished for his crimes."

Arsona smiled. "Thank you, Green Lantern. We had all but given up hope at this point."

VVVVVV

Sinestro entered the chamber of the Guardians and saw many Lanterns in attendance. Hal Jordan stood in the center of the room and was glaring at Sinestro as he approached.

"What is this about?" Sinestro demanded. "Is this about Bolphunga? He deserved nothing less than what he got."

"This has nothing to do with Bolphunga, Sinestro," Appa said. "This is about your abuse of your power ring on Korugar."

Sinestro's eyes widen. He glared at Hal. "What have you done, Earthman?"

"I saw what you have done to your world, Sinestro."

"What I have done? I brought peace to my world which has known nothing but war for years. I have stopped hundreds of thousands from dying." He looked back at the Guardians. "You should be thanking me for stopping the unnecessary deaths."

"We would, if you had stopped there," Ranakar said. "But you went further. You used your ring to instill your order upon the populace."

"And become a fascist dictator," Hal added.

"You have betrayed your oath, Sinestro."

"I didn't betray it!" Sinestro ranted. "I fulfilled it! For years, I watched as millions died. With the ring I was able to end it. I instituted order on my world that has not known the term. I fulfilled the duty that each of us are supposed to fulfill."

"But not at the cost of freedom and liberties!" Appa yelled. "Chaos and order to remain in balance. Going to extremes of either side results in great harm."

"Of course you would say that. Look at what has happened to this organization. We have become weak. A joke! Bolphunga truly believe Hal Jordan was the greatest Lantern of them all. Within the last year this Corps has nearly been destroyed by Red Lanterns and Orange Lanterns. We have lost perspective and the will to use the power we have been given. We have the power to instill order across the universe yet we squander it."

"You don't protect this Corps, this universe, by ignoring its laws of conduct."

"I'm afraid, you have crossed the line, Sinestro, and must be punished," Ranakar said.

"What..." Sinestro muttered.

"For abusing your powers, you are hereby stripped of your ring," Scar declared.

The ring on Sinestro's finger slid off and flew away.

"No, no, no!" Sinestro yelled. His uniform disappeared, replaced with purple and black clothes. The top purple pattern was shaped like a star. Sinestro tried grabbing the ring but it flew way too quickly.

"You don't deserve it," Shepard said.

Sinestro's teeth gritted. "I will make you pay for this, Earthman."

"And considering the severity of the abuse of power, your punishment is banishment," Scar concluded, "to the Anti-Matter Universe."

A small portal formed and Sinestro started to get sucked in. Hal watched as he was dematerialized and pulled in. "I will make you suffer as I have suffered, Earthman. I will see to it."

Sinestro vanished and the portal closed.

"You have once again served our Corps valiantly and found an evil that has escaped our sight for so long," Ranakar said. He scanned the room to see all of the Lanterns moved forward. "Let this be a lesson to us all. We must be vigilant at all times. Evil can come from the unlikeliest of sources. But fear not, because just like evil, virtues such as bravery and courage arise just as often. If not, more so. Thank you for your services, Commander Shepard."

"There's no way Sinestro can escape from the Anti-Matter universe, right?" Shepard asked.

"There is no possibility."