Inside a spaceship in the OA Star Universe, a special trial was underway.
The one being tried was Sinestro, leader of the Green Lantern Corps and known as the most powerful Green Lantern.
Presiding over the trial were three of the nine Supreme Guardians who had existed on OA Star since ancient times.
Their names had long been forgotten by the world, only their codenames remained:
Guan! Effie! Delockbo!
These were words from three different civilizations, representing love, law, and justice.
Inside the meeting center, the figures of the three Supreme Guardians were projected as holograms onto the three stone pillars at the very front.
Below them was Sinestro, the accused, flanked by witnesses Pol and Saidan.
Behind them stood thirty-five solemn-faced Green Lantern Corps soldiers.
The trial began, and a video was projected onto the central display.
The video showed the battle between Sinestro and the Fourth Mechanized Infantry Division.
Karic, his hands bandaged, commanded fully armed soldiers to surround the military camp.
Upon discovering Sinestro emerging from the underground base, he unhesitatingly gave the order to attack.
Instantly, bullets became a storm, the air roared, and the explosions of rockets obscured the entire view.
Sinestro's position was engulfed in flames and thick smoke.
After a long while, the smoke slowly dissipated.
This sight made everyone present tense up; they weren't worried about their leader, but about what would happen next.
Sure enough, Sinestro, enraged by the dissection and study of his friend's corpse, was provoked.
A six-meter-tall humanoid creature materialized behind him.
The creature had four arms; two held burning greatswords of fire, and two held greatswords of ice that emitted a cold, frosty mist.
The creature roared to the sky, radiating boundless fury and madness.
It raised its thick arms and swung them forcefully.
Fire blades flashed, and dozens of soldiers at the front were cut in half at the waist.
Their bodies rapidly burned, turning into black ash that scattered everywhere.
What followed was a one-sided slaughter, the horrific scenes making all the Green Lantern Corps soldiers present turn away in discomfort.
The video, only ten minutes long, quickly ended.
Effie, the Supreme Guardian representing law, spoke:
"Sinestro, answer me, is there any fabrication in the video content?"
Sinestro lifted his head high. "No."
Guan, the Supreme Guardian representing love, said gravely:
"You massacred 134 intelligent life forms from Earth."
"That wasn't a massacre, it was a battle."
Sinestro still held his head high, as if he were the one upholding justice.
Pol, one of the witnesses, couldn't help but interject, "Great Guardians, please hear my statement.
The conflict between Sinestro and the intelligent life forms of Earth erupted because the Earthlings dissected Abin Sur's body and placed it on an experimental table for study.
Sinestro and Abin Sur were close friends, with a deep friendship accumulated over countless years.
It was witnessing this scene that caused him to act so irrationally."
Saidan, alongside him, added:
"Abin Sur was the guardian of Sector 2814 of the universe.
He was brave, fearless, humble, loving, and charismatic, the greatest Green Lantern in the Corps' history.
His entire life was spent fighting evil, protecting the intelligent species of Sector 2814 from extraterrestrial threats.
His name spread throughout the universe, revered by many intelligent civilizations.
Yet, such a great being, after his death, was dissected, anatomized, and subjected to inhumane experiments by the very creatures he had always protected..."
At this point, the atmosphere fell silent.
The Green Lantern Corps soldiers' expressions were exceptionally complex, while Sinestro clenched his fists, his cheeks twitching uncontrollably.
"Given what the Earthlings did, are they not also at fault?"
This simple question plunged the already oppressive atmosphere into a deathly silence.
Were the Earthlings at fault?
From the Green Lantern Corps' perspective, certainly, they were, for they had dissected Abin Sur, their most revered comrade and a role model for many soldiers.
But many things cannot be viewed from only one side.
The impartial Delockbo spoke, "Similar incidents are not the first, nor will they be the last.
Intelligent species, in the process of civilizational evolution, have all taken similar measures.
They long for the attention of alien civilizations, yet they deeply fear the unknown.
The only way to eliminate fear is to understand, to understand physiologically, to engage culturally, and then to take the next step."
"For the intelligent beings on Earth, Abin Sur came from space, an unknown and terrifying existence.
They did not know Abin Sur's identity as a Green Lantern, nor his noble character and great deeds.
Dissection and research were incorrect measures taken to dispel their fear, an inevitable phenomenon in the process of civilizational development.
Every intelligent species will experience it, and it cannot be stopped."
These words left everyone present speechless.
The Guardians were not wrong; the civilizations of those present had all engaged in such behavior.
Pol and Saidan, who had wanted to argue for Sinestro, also closed their mouths helplessly.
Guan, the Supreme Guardian representing love, spoke:
"Anger, hatred, and malice are emotions strictly forbidden by the Green Lantern Corps.
The green light is the power of will, representing guardianship and responsibility.
The purpose of the Green Lantern Corps is to protect universal peace, to protect weaker civilizations from being annihilated by powerful entities, not to be punishers, arbiters, or avengers."
Effie, the Supreme Guardian representing law, said:
"Sinestro, your actions stemmed from anger and hatred, not guardianship.
You violated the laws of the Green Lantern Corps.
Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned to the person in the very center, filled with deep concern.
Sinestro closed his eyes, and after a good while, slowly opened them.
"I accept all rulings from the Supreme Guardians, but I have one request.
I hope the ruling takes place after the mission concerning Parallax is concluded.
Parallax is on Earth, possessing some intelligent life form.
We must find it, deal with it, and protect the civilization of this planet.
This is the mission of the Green Lantern Corps, and it is my mission."
The three Supreme Guardians did not speak, exchanging their thoughts telepathically.
After a moment, Delockbo, representing justice, spoke:
"Sinestro, your will has been corrupted by anger and hatred.
We cannot accept you remaining on this planet.
You need to return to OA Star and await the ruling order from the Enforcement Department."
"I disagree!"
Sinestro suddenly roared.
"I am the leader of the Green Lantern Corps.
I absolutely cannot leave my comrades at such a dangerous time.
I will fight alongside them, defeat Parallax, and end all of this."
Effie said in a deep voice, "You would defy the ruling! You would oppose the laws of the Green Lantern Corps."
Sinestro silently lowered his head, then exerted force with his arms.
Bang!
The electronic locks binding his hands and feet snapped.
"I will always obey the laws of the Green Lantern Corps, and I am deeply proud of it, but I cannot leave now."
With that, he took a few steps forward and turned off the projector.
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