Chapter 13: War of Light Part 3
Glomulus rush into the cave of his master. Larfleeze sat at his feasting table. He tore away a piece of meat and swallowed it whole with a slurp.
"Master!" Glomulus called out.
Larlfeeze drank a chalice of a sour liquid. "What do you want? Can't you see Larfleeze is busy eating?"
"Master, I found new power rings."
Larfleeze slammed his chalice on the table and hovered. "New rings?"
"Yes, Master Larfleeze. They are shiny and yellow."
"Yellow rings?" Larfleeze smiled and laughed. "I must have them. Larfleeze couldn't get the green rings or the blue rings, but yellow I could make mine."
"The Green Lanterns seem to be fighting the Yellow Lanterns."
"Are they now?" Larfleeze stroke his chin. "The Guardians forced me to sign a new treaty, but the treaty states Larfleeze cannot attack the Green Lanterns, their allies or the worlds they protect."
"But not their enemies," Glomulus said.
"Quiet, Glomulus! Larfleeze has an idea. The treaty has a loophole! I cannot attack the Green Lanterns, but I can attack these Yellow Lanterns."
"Most brilliant, Master Larfleeze."
"Of course it is. Where are the Yellow Lanterns' headquarters located?"
"Me and the others detected anti-matter. Can only mean they came from the anti-matter universe."
"Qward," Larfleeze grunted. "Stupid qwardian weaponers."
"What is your command, Master?"
"We are going to war," Larfleeze answered. "We go to the anti-matter universe and take all the Yellow Rings we can."
Larfleeze landed on the ground and walked over to his throne. He picked up his orange power battery and pressed his ring against its lens.
"My desires power my might. I claim all within my sight. With my precious bright orange light, I'll take it all-that is my right!"
The lens of the lantern flashed. "POWER LEVEL: ONE THOUSAND PERCENT."
VVVVVV
Natu entered Koruger's surface. She knew she had just abandoned the other Lanterns, but she had to make sure her people were okay. With the attacks across the universe from the Yellow Lanterns, Koruger is extremely vulnerable. The planet is still trying to recover from Sinestro's planet-wide dictatorship.
A storm had just reached the city. The clouds were black and blue lightning bolts streaked across its under-surface. Rain started and was increasing in volume as time went on. Natu scanned the area and saw no Yellow Lantern activity. She flew to the capital's city hall and landed. When the city's inhabitants saw her flying to the city centre, many ran away in fear. Others stayed their ground and were booing her. As they stayed, many others joined their efforts.
"I have dire warning for everyone here!" Natu pleaded as she landed in front of the city hall's doors.
"Yeah, a Green Lantern is back," one of them yelled at her.
"Get off of our planet!" another yelled.
"Please listen!" Natu cried out. "A war has broken out. Yellow Lanterns are attacking everywhere. Everyone needs to remain at their homes until the crisis is over."
Someone threw a piece of fruit at her. She blocked it with a small energy shield. In that time, she had tried to warn her people; the security force had shown up. They were heavily armed and had tanks by their side.
"Green Lantern!" the security officer had said over a speaker. "Leave our planet at once or we will open fire on you."
"Listen to me! You are all in grave danger!"
"Officers! Aim!" The soldiers took aim. The tanks turrets rotated and their barrels aimed at Natu. "And f-!" The officer was cut off as a yellow energy blast impacted him causing a small explosion.
The soldiers looked around in a panicked state. The civilians cowered where they stood. Several more energy blasts came forth. The security force was swiftly eliminated.
"I've only been gone for four months and already my world has fallen back into the hands of chaos," a voice said.
Natu spun around and saw him. Sinestro stood on top of one of the city hall. Lightning struck the sky behind him allowing everyone to see him. He lifted off of the building and gracefully drifted down towards Natu. She had her ring aimed at him. Upon seeing Sinestro, the civilians made a run for their lives.
"It is good to be back, despite the weather," he said. "Soranik Natu, right?"
"Sinestro?" Natu gasped. "Y-You're supposed to be in the anti-matter universe. And you're a member of the Yellow Lantern Corps?"
Sinestro chuckled. "I found my way out. And I'm not just a member of the Yellow Lantern Corps." Another lightning bolt struck. "I am the Corps. Leader of the Sinestro Corps."
"What are you doing here?" Natu demanded while aiming her ring at him. "What do you want?"
"What am I doing here? And you don't know what I want? Here I thought you were intelligent."
A green aura surrounded Natu. "None of this matters. On behalf of the Corps, I arrest you."
"Much does matter, Natu. I came here to make sure my planet is in safe hands. As for arresting me with my own ring..." A fiery yellow aura suddenly erupted from him causing Natu's energy shield to shatter. Natu was flung back from the attack. "I don't think so."
VVVVVV
Queen Aga'po watched events occur in the universe in her chambers. Yellow lights danced all over the universe. Several Star Sapphires walked into her chamber.
"My queen you have called for us," one of them said.
"I have," she said. "Look. Fear is spreading across the universe. Love is being extinguished as love ones are being killed. I do not know who these Yellow Lanterns are, but this cannot be allowed to go on. The Green Lanterns have started fighting against this threat, but it is too overwhelming. If we do not act, fear will hold dominion over the universe and love will be extinguished."
"We can't allow that to happen," Miri said passionately.
"And we won't. Come with me."
The Sapphires flew out of the chamber and towards the central battery. As Queen Aga'po approached the central battery, the other Star Sapphires gathered around. In total they numbered in the hundreds. Nowhere near the number of Green Lanterns, but they still held great power. Love.
Queen Aga'po and her most prominent Star Sapphires, Miri, Fatality, and Bloss, landed in front of the lens of the battery. Inside they saw the remains of the two winged-people whose hands were intertwined. Predator paced around the two. Aga'po ran her hand across the lens and felt the power of love wash over her. She turned to address the Star Sapphires who gathered below.
"My loyal Star Sapphires," Aga'po began to address. "A new enemy has revealed itself. A new Lantern Corps. It is far more dangerous than the Red Lanterns from over half a year ago. As oppose to spreading hate, these Lanterns spread fear. Thousands are dying every moment and thus fear is allowed the spread and crush love. Love ones are torn away from their significant other. As Star Sapphires, our duty is to spread love across the universe, and to protect it." Aga'po pointed to the winged-people inside the Lantern. "These two are proof of just how powerful love is. Not even death can stop love. We must fight to protect the people who feel it!"
The Sapphires roared in cheer. They raised their ring hands and the land glittered with purple light.
"Remember your oath!"
All together the crowded recited the Star Sapphire oath with Queen Aga'po, "For hearts long lost and full of fright, for those alone in Blackest Night. Accept our ring and join our fight, love conquers all with violent light!"
The rings of each Star Sapphire glowed, lighting the area to an almost blinding brightness. They lifted off and flew away from their homeworld to fight the threat of the Yellow Lantern Corps. While doing so, they left their central battery unattended.
A small green portal formed near the central battery and the cloaked man with chains hovered out of it. He approached the lens of the battery and placed his hand against it. Predator took one look at the man. Predator bared its teeth recognizing him as an intruder. It roared at him. The chains came to life and stabbed through the lens. The chains wrapped around the wrists and legs of Predator.
Predator struggled against the chains. The chains slowly pulled Predator out of the battery. It roared and cried as it was torn from its home. Once Predator was pulled out of the battery, the chains glowed purple.
"Five left."
VVVVVV
Natu was flung into the nearby clock tower. The top half of it broke off and fell to the streets below. At this time more police officers showed up. They all immediately recognized the Yellow Lantern.
"It's Sinestro!" one of them yelled. "Open fire!" The officers fired their rifles and tank cannons at Sinestro.
Sinestro effortlessly blocked their attacks with a yellow energy wall. "It seems this world has forgotten everything I have done and what I am capable of. It seems they require a lesson. One they won't soon forget."
Sinestro opened fire on the police force.
"No!" Natu yelled while blasting off from the ruins of the clock tower. She fired an energy blast at Sinestro.
Sinestro backhanded the energy blast away causing it to fling into a nearby building. "Please tell me you can do better, Natu."
"Just watch!" She swooped in and green energy surrounded her body.
Sinestro raised his ring and charged up some energy. The two Lanterns collided and their energies flared up. The ground below started to disintegrate from their energy.
"Why fight me, Natu? We both want the same thing. To protect our planet."
"We are not the same!"
"You have spirit but that isn't enough to defeat me. Tell me. Who trained you?"
"Commander Hal Jordan-Shepard." She pushed harder against Sinestro.
"That explains why you are having trouble. There's no way the earthman could ever defeat me. What hope do you think you have against me? Maybe you should call backup."
"My duty is to protect the innocent." Natu jumped back and then slashed forth with two energy blade weapons that emerged from her hands.
Sinestro blocked her attack by surrounding himself with yellow pipes. "When I guarded this sector, I did it alone and without any help. No one dared to oppose me." He moved forward and grabbed Natu in a bear hug and flew into the storm clouds. "This is what you fear isn't it? You fear your powers."
Natu broke out of his hold in as flash of green energy. Sinestro quickly created yellow chains and they wrapped around her wrists and ankles.
"I-I fear nothing!"
"Let me be more specific. You fear that your power will corrupt you. That it may turn you into... me?"
Sinestro's chains vanished. He turned to look upon the city below him.
"This fear is making you weak. You must harness that fear to impose order. You could make this universe fear you. If not the universe, then at least this planet."
Natu fired an energy blast at Sinestro. The attack splashed harmlessly against his yellow energy aura.
"You know I could kill you now, but why should I? You are more useful to me alive and I will still have my victory." A beam of energy came from Sinestro's body and quickly surrounded Natu in a ball of energy.
"Y-Your victory?" Natu repeated while slamming her fist against the wall of the ball.
"Yes. I only need our world to believe you have defeated me and I have won."
The energy ball reformed into a table with restraints around Natu's wrists and ankles. Sinestro brought Natu up to him face-to-face. "The people know you to be a great healer and now they will know you as a great warrior. The government will beg you to bring order to this world. You won't refuse. You can't refuse. This is your curse." Lightning struck the table, electrocuting Natu causing her to scream. "You will need to help your people more and more until most of your time will be spent here."
"N-No," she huffed in pain. "M-My duty is to... the whole sector. The Guardians wouldn't allow it."
"Do not worry about the Guardians. They will not be around for long. I want you to stay here on Koruger and keep her people safe until I win the Lantern war. I'm giving you no choice in the matter." Sinestro released Natu from her restraints. As she fell she heard him say, "Goodbye for now, Natu. Take care of our planet until I return."
The civilians down below watched the battle in the sky. They could not tell who was winning as they could only see clashes of yellow and green light. Soon the yellow light vanished and a streak of green light came down from the sky.
"Look!" one of the called out.
"Soranik Natu!"
The green light impacted the ground. Everyone ran to her.
"Is she alive?"
"Pray that she is."
They reached Natu and saw her shakily got to her feet. Her uniform was torn up.
"She lives!" one of the civilians yelled.
"Then Sinestro has been defeated. He would never show her mercy if he still lived!"
"We are saved! Lead us, Soranik Natu!"
"Saviour of Koruger!" the crowd yelled.
Natu couldn't focus on the adoring public. The only thing on her mind was why did Sinestro let her live.
VVVVVV
Atrocitus and Dex-Starr reached Ysmault. They made their way towards the central battery which stood out, even from space as it had an eerie red glow. From the sky, Atrocitus saw his Lanterns fighting amongst themselves. Since his absence, there has been no direction for them to focus their rage so they turned on each other to release the emotion.
Atrocitus slammed into the ground as he landed. The sound immediately got everyone's attention.
"My lord," Bleez said as she bowed in his presence. "You're free."
"No thanks to you," he said. "Dex-Starr waited for an opportunity to get me off of Oa for the last several months as you all fought amongst yourselves."
"We had disagreements about how we should proceed," Vice interjected.
"I have returned and with a new orders," Atrocitus said. "I have learned much in my confinement. We have all been deceived. The Green Lanterns, the Guardians, and us."
"What do you mean?" Bleeze hissed.
"The Manhunter massacre was instigated from a being known as Krona. He is responsible for the deaths of Sector 666."
"If the Guardians are not responsible for the Manhunters, then what do we do now?"
"Krona may be gone, but his legacy still remains. I was right about the reapers from the Milky Way galaxy. They are the next stage of the Manhunter's evolution. If this universe is to continue to exist, the reapers must be destroyed. By extension, Hal Jordan-Shepard must live. His fate is tied with ending the reaper threat. But if he dies... then so does this universe. But this is not a mission he can do alone."
"Why should we help him when just over half a year ago we tried to kill him and the Green Lantern corps?" Vice inquired.
"Rage may power my ring, but it does not blind me to the truth. If we do not stop the reapers, all is lost. While I want vengeance for the atrocities committed in Sector 666, it will not come at the cost of all life in the universe." Atrocitus then glared at Vice. "Do you understand? None of you will ever have your vengeance if this universe ends!"
"Y-Yes," Vice replied. He was visible shaken from Atrocitus snapping at him. "There's something you should know. It's the Butcher. It's gone."
"The Butcher is gone?" Atrocitus yelled.
"Yes, my lord. When we returned after the battle, the Butcher was gone."
"How can the Rage entity disappear?"
"I do not know. But it disappeared in the time between us attacking Oa and our return."
'Was it taken?' Atrocitus thought. 'Who could possibly be capable of such a feat? Could the manhunters or reapers be involved?'
"The reapers and their allies may be behind the theft. We cannot do much about it at the moment. For now we must act against the Yellow Lanterns."
"What are our orders?" Bleeze asked.
"A war has broken out between the Green Lantern corps and the Yellow Lantern corps. We are to provide support for Commander Shepard. I believe this is the War of Light that my prophecies have foreseen. If this war is lost, so is the universe. We may only be a couple dozen, but for the sake of this universe we must fight. To war!"
"To war!" the Red Lanterns screamed back while pumping their clenched ring hand into their air.
VVVVVV
Ganthet and Sayd along with the two dozen members of the Blue Lantern Corps saw the events unfold before them in the model of the universe. Green, Yellow, Red and Sapphire lights danced all over the universe.
"It has finally happened," Ganthet said.
"The War of Light," Sayd finished. "Then Blackest Night will manifest."
"So long as Hope exists, the War of Light will be won by our side," Saint Walker said.
"And Blackest Night will be stopped by Commander Hal Jordan-Shepard," Brother Warth added. "With our help."
"All Blue Lanterns are to head to Oa," Ganthet ordered. "These Yellow Lanterns cannot be allowed to win the War of Light. If they do, this universe will end."
VVVVVV
It took hours to gather the dead and injured. Once the task was completed, Shepard along with the other top Lanterns met inside the Guardian chamber.
"All those who have been killed or injured have been gathered and taken care of," Shepard said to them.
"Many have lost their lives in the Yellow Lantern assault," Boodikka added. "The rings were programmed by Mogo to initiate long-range search for their new bearers."
Mogo was essential in ensuring the rings found new members to serve the Green Lantern Corps. Each ring is calibrated to increase their detection range of beings with a great amount of willpower. Without him, the rings ability to search out new bearers is severely limited. The only reason Shepard got his ring was because he was both close to Abin Sur when he died and he had an enormous amount of willpower.
"We cannot allow this attack without retaliation," Scar said.
"Guardian, we still do not know where their base of operations is located," Tomar-Re pointed out. "Or who leads them."
"I know who leads them and where you can find them," Natu said as she entered the chamber.
"What are you doing here?" Kilowog scoffed. "You left."
"And I'm sorry, but I have discovered who leads the Yellow Lanterns."
"Who?" Scar demanded.
"Sinestro," she answered.
"That's impossible!" Shepard yelled. "Sinestro was sent to the anti-matter universe."
"He found a way out and got his yellow rings. I fought him on Koruger. I barely got out of the fight alive."
"You took him on?" Kilowog repeated. "That was stupid! He could have killed you."
"Why didn't he?" Arisia followed up.
"I-I don't know. He just left. I-I just don't know. He and his Sinestro Corps are looking to overthrow the Guardians and replace the Green Lanterns."
"Do you believe his headquarters would be in the anti-matter universe?" Ranakar asked.
"I would stake my life on it."
"While you did abandon your post, you did so to ensure the protection of a world in your sector and in doing so gave us vital Intel. We will overlook your desertion this time."
"It appears more of Shepard has rubbed off on you than construct techniques," Arisia joked to Natu.
"We now know who we are fighting and where they are located," Scar said. "We are to assault the anti-matter universe immediately. Kilowog, send out the order. The Sinestro Corps is to be destroyed."
"Right away," Kilowog said before dashing off.
"The Lanterns who are still off of Oa will be recalled here. The rest of you are to spearhead the assault. Charge your rings. Protocols to travel to the anti-matter universe will be transferred to your rings."
"Recite your oath," Ranakar said.
The Green Lanterns opened their pocket dimensions and pulled out their power battery. They placed their rings against the lens and together recited their oaths. "In Brightest Day, in Blackest Night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware our power—Green Lantern's light!"
Their rings flashed to signify that they are charged. They returned their power batteries to their pocket dimensions. After the dimensions closed, each of them opened a portal to the anti-matter universe.
"Here we go," Hal said.
"What's that?" Arisia asked while looking into the portal.
"What?" Boodikka asked.
Before Arisia could answer, yellow tentacles launched out of the portal and ensnared each of the Lanterns and pulled them into the portal.
Hal blacked out when he was pulled into the portal. When he came to he found himself on Virmire. Shepard was inside Saren's research base where the bomb was placed. It all felt real. He felt the breeze of the ocean air flow pass his face and the sun slightly burn his face.
"H-How...?" he muttered.
"Commander Shepard," a voice called out to him.
Hal spun round and his eyes widen. Before him was Kaidan.
"K-Kaidan? But you're-"
"Dead? Yeah, I'm dead. Because of you. You left me to die here!"
Kaidan's complexion suddenly shifted. His flesh turned black from flames burning it.
"I-I had to make a choice."
"And so you chose Ash? Leave me to die. Why did I have to set the bomb? Why not you? I could have lived if you set the bomb."
"I had to lead the team to Ash and-"
"I could have done that," Kaidan said smugly. "You couldn't save me. What chances do you have to save the galaxy? The universe? You can't."
"Shut up."
"Can't handle the truth?"
"Shut up!" Shepard yelled while swinging his fist. His fist went right through Kaidan and the vision vanished.
The area around him then reformed into a new vision.
"Dad?"
Hal found himself in the seat behind his father during the test flight. He looked out the glass and saw himself and his mother. His younger self was holding his father's jacket. His father was looking at young Hal as well.
"I gave you my jacket to hold onto so you'd relax," Martin said. "C'mon, kid. Smile for me."
Young Hal smiled.
"There ya go."
The Alliance fighter took off. Almost immediately after alarms went off.
"Dammit! I'm having some problems up here, Alliance Control. Fuel is being eaten up quick. I thought this thing was sent to repairs?"
"It was!" Control replied.
"I need to bring it away from the crowd."
"You need to abandon the fighter," Control said.
"I have to make sure no one else gets hurt."
Hal tried to get his ring to form constructs. "Come on, ring! Light up! Work." Tears were coming from his eyes. "Please... Save him..."
"No one will get hurt," Martin said as he directed the fighter towards a cleared area.
"Dad?"
Martin Jordan then muttered something into his helmet.
"What?" Hal asked. "What did you say, dad? What did you SAY?"
"You'll never know his last words," a familiar voice said.
Hal tried grabbing his father in an attempt to get him out. His arms went right through him.
"This is what you're afraid of, isn't it? You're afraid your friends died in vain. You're afraid your father died in fear."
"What did you say, dad?!" Hal demanded of his father.
The fighter crashed into the ground in a fiery explosion. Hal was on his knees crying into his left hand.
"They both did. Share that fear."
"Sinestro," Hal growled.
Shepard found himself on Qward and behind him was Sinestro with his nose upturned towards him.
"Are you ready to face your fears?"