Lighting the Path

By Michael Weyer

Battlestar Galactica owned by Sci-Fi Channel.

Green Lantern and DC Comics owned by Warner Bros.

The idea for this has been bouncing in my head for a while so I thought I'd at least get a start on it and see if there was enough good feedback to continue it. All comments welcomed, thank you. For DC fans, this takes place shortly after the "Sinestro Corps War."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Light.

That was what Starbuck saw of the world around her, just light. The light that called to her even as her Viper shook itself apart, the light that guided her in. She couldn't hear Lee's voice in her ears anymore, couldn't see anything beyond that light.

She knew what was happening though. She knew her Viper was about to explode and kill her but oddly, she wasn't afraid. After all she'd been through in the last three years, death held no terror for her. She'd fracked up so much with Lee, with Sam, with the fleet, everything, what was death after that?

When the Viper finally erupted, she felt herself hurled out of the fireball and into the clouds. She was surprised it didn't hurt, she figured the fire would be singing her all over. It didn't matter, no way she could survive the vacuum or the fall and the green clouds billowed about…

Wait.

Green?

She suddenly realized she wasn't falling. She was floating in the middle of the air as a green light enveloped her completely. She glanced around, baffled by how impossible this was before her eyes caught an object floating before her. She turned her head to see a small green ring with a circular symbol on it floating before her. As she stared, she heard a voice echoing from nowhere and yet everywhere at the same time.

"Kara Thrace. You have shown the ability to overcome great fear. You have thus been recruited into the Green Lantern Corps."

The ring flew out to wrap itself onto the ring finger of Starbuck's right hand. As soon as it did, the green glow flew outward, covering her completely. Her uniform vanished, replaced by a new one, green over her main body, black around her forearms and legs with green boots and white gloves. Her helmet was also gone as an odd combination of mask and headband wrapped around her face and head.

"What…the frackk?!" she gasped out.

"Uniform completed. Prepare to journey to Oa for training."

Without warning, Kara felt herself yanked off, her hand involuntarily moving forward as the ring directed her outward. Part of her mind was able to logically process things: Her body was covered by a green glow that radiated a strange energy. This energy apparently was protecting her from the ravages of space as she flew at speeds faster than she could ever hope to match with her Viper. The majority of her mind, however, was still trying to take all this in and thus made little protest as she saw stars whizzing by at such high speeds, they became blurs of light.

After what seemed only minutes, the blurs began to slow down as new stars and planets came into focus. One in particular dominated, a large world of green with bright clouds. "What is that?" Kara asked, not expecting an answer.

"Oa," the answer came. Kara realized at last that somehow, it was the ring itself speaking to her. "The center of the universe. Home to the Guardians of the Universe. Base of the Green Lantern Corps."

"Wait, wait…wait a minute!" Kara yelled out. With a stop so sudden it made her lose her breath, she halted in space. She hovered, taking a breath (and ignoring how weird it was to do it in a vacuum) as she held the ring up to her face. "Okay…what the frack is going on here?!"

"Unable to translate query."

Kara sighed. "What…what is a Green Lantern Corps?"

"The Green Lantern Corps were established three billion years ago by the immortal Guardians to keep order in the 3600 sectors of the known universe. There are to be two Lanterns to each sector, thus a planned 7200 Lanterns. Current Lantern Corps number…"

"Who are these Lanterns?"

"Do you wish listing by alphabetical order, date of recruitment or species"

Kara blinked. "Species? You…you mean…aliens?"

"Correct. Current Lantern corps is made up of species selected from among 143, 262 known planets. Current rankings…"

"Hold on," Kara interrupted. "Um…what do I do with…well, you?"

"Full detailed analysis of ring's capabilities will take fifty-six standard hours."

"How about edited highlights then?"

"Ring is capable of protecting wearer from harm, from projectile to plasma and other energy weapons. The force shield can also provide protection from elements and travel at speeds just below those of light. Ring can translate all known alien languages. Ring's greatest ability is to create solid energy constructs at the wearer's bidding."

Kara frowned. "What kind of constructs?"

"As stated, dictated by wearer. Only restrictions are by bearer's imagination and strength of willpower."

Kara took that in as she studied the ring then held it out before her. She concentrated, feeling the image forming in her mind and letting it run through her body. She could feel the power even before the ring began to glow, a beam of light firing outward and before her. It became solid, forming itself into a large shape as Kara continued to focus herself, her brow furrowing as she poured as much of her concentration into it as she could. Before her formed a shape that began to solidify itself, a solid green form that elongated to create a ship. Starbuck focused further to add details, windows, vents, exhausts and more until a green model of a Viper stood before her. It wasn't perfect to be sure but it was a close approximation.

"Wow," Kara whispered as she let her concentration go and the green image vanished in light. She suddenly felt herself being tugged off as the ring once more took control.

"Warning: Ring charge at 22.4%. Imperative to reach Oa for recharge and training."

Starbuck decided to let it go this time and allowed the ring to direct her on. She saw the large planet come into focus before her. She hissed as she hit the atmosphere, the heat of reentry coming in through the force shield. The clouds faded around her as she saw herself pulled over wide green field and plains of odd orange until a huge city came into view.

Green was all around it. Nearly every building, dome and tower was a bright green and seemed to glow as well. The few non-green buildings were mixed in but their colors seemed muted by the emerald glow around them. Several were of designs Kara had never seen while others reminded her of Caprica. Greenish roads and bridges curves around the landscaping as she flew overhead. The largest area was a platform at the center of the city. Atop it was a massive shape that looked like an old style lantern Kara had once used when camping as a girl. She circled around it as the ring glowed brighter and she swore she could feel it getting stronger in her grasp.

"Ring fully recharged. Now en route to Corps Hall for training." The path took them on a long arc around the city as Kara could make out various forms about, some walking, others flying. Kara couldn't help but stare at the ones who passed by. Many were humanoid but with skins of various colors, some with stuff like horns or antenna or spikes. Others looked like animals, bears, deer, even a squirrel. And others…others bore no resemblance to human beings at all. One looked like a crystal octopus, another a flying manta and yet another just looked like a green blob of some sort. What they all had in common were that all wore the same uniforms as Kara and the same green rings.

The ring finally flew her over a large circular building with an open ceiling. Kara felt herself lowered down until she landed among a group of other beings in green. A few simply gave her looks of disinterest as they glanced up at the stage before them. Kara focused on it herself to see a figure step forward. He was a hulking being about seven feet tall and seemed almost as wide. His head was boxy as well and pink-skinned, resembling a swamp-like creature, his black eyes with no pupils looking out over the crowd of beings as his wide mouth (with odd mandibles linking together at the lips) began to speak.

"Awright, ya poozers!" he snapped in a deep voice. Kara was jarred to hear him speaking Colonial, then remembered the ring had said it could translate all languages. "I'm Kilowog. I'm yer new best friend…and yer worst enemy. Some of you were hotshots on your home worlds…." Kara felt his eyes on her. "Some of ya were nobodies. And some of ya may get it in yer heads you just been recruited to play with the gods."

He leaned forward. "Well, guess what? From where I'm standing, ya ain't nothing but a buncha rookies, greenhorns, crap on my boots. In case ya ain't heard, we lost a lot of Lanterns in a war recently. A lot of good soldiers and a lot who had potential. We need to fill the numbers out and that brings ya here. Make no mistake, it's dangerous now and we need the best. I'm gonna mold ya into Green Lanterns and if I have at break ya to do it, that's what I'm gonna do!"

He pointed at his chest and Kara saw that in the circle was an emblem like the one on her ring. "Ya don't get wear this badge unless ya earn it and as of now, ya barely earn the air you breathe! You want to make it as a Lantern, ya listen to me and do as I say and maybe you can be lucky enough to survive."

He backed up, hands behind his back. "So before your hell begins…any questions?"

There was a pause as Kara slowly raised her hand. "Yeah, I got one. Anyone wanna tell me what the FRACK is going on here?!"

Kilowog narrowed his eyes at her. ""And who are you, girlie?"

"Kara Thrace, Captain, Colonial Fleet, BSG-114747," she recited. "Call sign Starbuck."

"Call sign?" Kilowog frowned. "What, you a pilot?"

"Pilot?" Kara grinned. "I'm the best you've ever seen, ugly."

Kilowog rolled his eyes. "Great. Just what I needed. A female Jordan."

Kara didn't know what that meant but shook it off as she moved forward. "Listen, I don't know what the hell is going on around here, I don't know you or this Corps or whatever you want. I need to get back to my fleet now so how about you show me the way and I'll send the ring back."

Kilowog glared at her. "You wanna leave now, girlie? Wanna wash out as a failure?"

Kara sniffed. "I'm not a failure, pal."

"You're what I say you are," Kilowog barked, pointing at her. "That ring chose you, which means something. Personally, I don't know what cause all I see is a little brat pilot with a lot of attitude and nothing backing it up. Ya wanna fly back to mommy and daddy at home? Sure, go…."

That was as far as he got before Kara Thrace decided to react to him the same way she generally reacted to superior officers who ran her down or at the very least annoyed the crap out of her.

A loud gasp of shock went out through the various Lanterns as Kilowog was sent flying through a nearby wall. Kara flew at him, the large fist formed out of her ring still in place as she threw her hand out, the fist smashing at Kilowog again.

He held up his own ring and formed a shield to block her attempt. He rose up, his mouth wide to show large teeth as he grinned. "Thanks, girlie. I was hoping someone in this class could be used for an example and ya just volunteered!"

He blasted out a beam of energy and Kara instinctively held up her fist. Without even realizing it, she formed a solid shield before her to block his attack. "Not bad," Kilowog said as he reached behind him. "Let's see ya block this!" He threw out his hand to send a small object flying at her.

Kara kept the shield up as she commanded the ring to form a bubble around the object. She saw it was a yellow disc, not dangerous as it hovered in the small bubble. Kilowog seemed surprised. "Damn. Rookies usually can't handle yellow so fast."

Kara frowned. "Yellow? What the hell does that have to do with it?"

"Green Lantern rings had an impurity that would not affect the color yellow," her ring answered. "That impurity was tied to an entity in the Central Power Battery known as Parallax. Said entity was purged and now…"

"History lessons later!" Kilowog snarled as he stormed in. "Let's see how well you handle close quarters, girlie!"

Kara grinned as she lunged in and threw out her hands to create a battering ram to knock Kilowog back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Another lovely day on Oa," Guy Gardner said as he chewed on his food. He stood out among the other Lanterns for a few reasons. One was his hair, orange-red with a bowl cut. The other was that his uniform was slightly different, black pants with a large white belt, his jacket buttoned up to show a turtleneck at his collar, the Lantern symbol a patch at his mid-section. "Surprised things calmed down so fast after the Sinestro Corps attack."

"I'll take that," Kyle Rayner replied. Like Guy, his outfit was different, almost all black with the green flowing from his midsection to shoulders. His Lantern symbol was on his heart while his handsome face was concealed by a plated mask, his short black hair showing. "I can use a bit of boredom after…." His voice faded as he looked down.

Guy sighed as he put his fork down. "Can't keep beating yourself up, Kyle. It wasn't you who killed Chance, it was Parallax. You always said we couldn't blame Jordan for what he did and he damn well wrecked the Corps. So don't blame yourself."

Kyle sighed and Guy could tell he understood with his head but not his heart. He couldn't really blame him of course. Being possessed by an entity of evil and used to attack his own fellow corpsmen was enough to give anyone a bout of depression. There was little Guy could do to help Kyle cope other than just give support.

The two were distracted by the doors to the mess hall bursting open. Two Lanterns stood, panting for breath. One looked human with tanned skin and hair cut to near baldness. The other had a head like a dinosaur with jagged teeth. "Hey!" the first, Vath Sarn, called out. "You gotta come see this!"

"It's Kilowog!" his partner, Isamot Kol, yelled. "He's getting into a fight with some new female recruit!"

Guy sniffed. "Ah, an example for the rookies, huh?"

"No, no!" Vath yelled. "She's kicking his ass!"

There was a long silence. Then, in a flurry of green, every single Lantern in the hall flew out the doors to race toward the training hall, leaving a whirlwind of fallen chairs and tables.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Fire in the hole!" Kara yelled as she pulled the trigger and let the massive cannon in her hands let out a ball of fire that knocked Kilowog back. The Lantern teacher gasped with pain, still amazed at how well this rookie was adapting to her ring's abilities. He fired a blast but Kara flew aside to dodge it, letting out a laugh as she spun in the air and fired again. Kilowog was able to block it but the impact of the blast made him lose his footing.

"Still think I'm all mouth?" Starbuck grinned as she flew up in the air. The feeling was exhilarating, the freedom to let loose without a Viper unlike anything she'd ever dreamed of. That fueled her power as she let the ring form a large blaster that railed nails of green down on Kilowog.

"Um, shouldn't we do something?" Kyle asked from the sidelines where almost every Lantern on Oa had gathered to watch the fight.

"I am," Guy grinned as he used his ring to form a quartet of cameras to record every angle of the fight.

Kara charged down, her fists brought together to form a wedge as she targeted Kilowog. The alien snarled as he flew up to meet her, both preparing to slam into each other.

Suddenly, a padded wall of green formed between the pair. Both figures slammed into the wall and bounced back, startled at its sudden appearance. They looked up to see a man in a Lantern uniform slowly lowering himself down. He appeared to be in his thirties, handsome with brown hair showing, a mask over his eyes. "What's the trouble here?" he demanded in a strong voice that carried assurance in every tone.

"Rookie's got a bug up her ass," Kilowog said. "I was just trying to teach her some manners."

"I'll teach you…" Kara moved in but the newcomer stood before her, his arms crossed at his chest. "Who the hell are you?" she snapped, ready to knock him aside, positive there was nothing he could say that could stop her.

"Hal Jordan. Green Lantern of Earth."

Except that.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So, opinions if I should continue? Thanks.