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Boom! The sound of an explosion ripped through the usually peaceful and quiet air of Oa. It drew Hal's attention immediately. A rapidly dissipating cloud of smoke hid the Guardian's citadel, the site of that explosion.
Whatever was the source couldn't have been good and Hal sprang into the air. Without a thought to the consequences, he directed his ring to carry him in a simple flight path straight into the centre of the action where the most danger was likely to be. Of course, it didn't even occur to him that it wasn't the wisest decision he could've made.
Other Green Lanterns, who had also been loitering around on Oa, were following after Hal. Too intent on reaching the sight of the explosion as fast as he could, Hal paid them no mind.
There was no obvious indicator as to what was happening even when Hal reached a point high in the air above the cloud. Careless of the danger, he dropped to the ground. His ring made him invulnerable so he never saw any reason to be really careful.
That thought, about his ring, almost made Hal face palm as he remembered it had functions other than enabling reckless behaviour.
Silently cursing his own slow thinking, Hal constructed a fan and blew away the smoke. Several other Lanterns were already doing the same, constructs varied for different cultures and styles, because they'd thought of it quicker than Hal had. He winced a little at that. It would take time for him to really settle into being a Green Lantern and using all the stuff he could do.
In the centre of the citadel, visible now the smoke had been cleared, a slim figure in glowing green was leaping to their feet.
Recognising the person instantly, Hal started, his eyes wide. "Sinestro?" Bright purple blood decorated some of Sinestro's features and, seeing it, Hal hurried forward to help out.
Naturally, Sinestro pushed Hal away. It was a good sign that Sinestro was acting like himself.
"I am fine," the more experienced Green Lantern dismissed his protégé even while wiping a trickle of blood from his own nostrils. "I am far more concerned with the Manhunter. Have you let it escape?"
Yellow eyes darted all around, searching. Not finding his prey, Sinestro leapt into the air, green streaks of energy trailing after him from his ring.
Since Hal didn't recall seeing any Manhunter, he frowned. Still, he couldn't dismiss it outright. If Sinestro said something was true, then he couldn't be argued with and the other Green Lanterns had to agree because they were already following Sinestro. Determined to keep up, Hal copied their actions and sprang after them all as they flew around, looking for the robot Sinestro had seen.
There didn't seem to be any trace of a Manhunter. While Hal usually left the decision making to professionals, he was also starting to suspect they were flying in circles. They'd definitely passed that particular building before.
Since Sinestro was very rarely wrong, as Hal had to come to learn over time, Hal would have happily labelled his doubts as paranoia but he wasn't the only one to notice something was off.
Looking none too happy, Kilowog flew up to Sinestro. "Hey, poozer! We're flying in circles!"
The irritation at being questioned poured off Sinestro and he looked about to respond with some biting retort when his eyes lit up on something in the distance. With Kilowog following close behind, Sinestro dashed off, and although they were plainly less certain than they had been before, the other Green Lanterns also took off after their leaders.
Far away across the skies of Oa, Sinestro was suddenly engaged in combat. Ready to fight at his side, Hal tensed. Only... the enemy that had attacked appeared to be nothing. There was no enemy, just Sinestro battling thin air.
Confused, Hal exchanged looks with the Lantern beside him but they just shrugged. No one had any clear idea of what was going on.
Obviously having had enough, Kilowog was gesturing for Sinestro to stop. "What are you doing? Sinestro!"
Only more of the one-sided battle was Sinestro's response to Kilowog. When Kilowog tried to fly forward, to pull Sinestro away from whatever was happening, he received an elbow cracked across his face and a heavy construct smashing into his chest.
Wide eyed, Hal watched Kilowog go sailing past and smash into a nearby building. "Do not obstruct me!" Sinestro snarled after him. "I will stop the Manhunter, whether you wish to assist me or not!"
With his teeth bared in a dangerous expression, Sinestro tore off again. This time, no one followed him. A few of the Lanterns hurried to help Kilowog while the rest hung back, looking doubtful. They were, impossibly enough, almost afraid of Sinestro.
For a moment, Hal was motionless. He wanted to help Kilowog but Sinestro needed him too. It really wasn't much of a decision in the end, when set out so simply. Hal raced after Sinestro.
"Sinestro!" Hal yelled out once he was close enough to hopefully be heard. "What are you doing?"
Not even looking up at him, Sinestro threw a construct at a nearby wall then ducked away from invisible return fire. If he didn't stop this soon, he was going to hurt someone, or even worse, and this was the really worrying option to Hal, Sinestro would get hurt himself.
Galvanised, Hal threw himself between the wall and Sinestro. His hands were raised in the universal gesture of meaning no harm but Sinestro, with unfocused eyes, didn't even seem to notice Hal was there at all.
"Sin?" Hal said cautiously. "Hey, look at me. Something's wrong. You have to know that."
Sinestro blinked. Then that yellow gaze sharpened and focused on Hal. "The Manhunter -" Sinestro began but Hal shook his head and flew closer, his hands still in the air.
When Hal was right before Sinestro, he sensed it was safe. The alien who meant so much to him wouldn't lash out. Trusting in Sinestro like Kilowog hadn't been able to, Hal lowered his hands and rested them on Sinestro's shoulders.
With that wary yellow gaze watching him, Hal looked deep into Sinestro's eyes and tried to explain, "There's no Manhunter. It's just in your head."
Into an expression of deepest confusion, Sinestro's eyebrows drew together. Just as he was opening his mouth to argue, he paused, tensed, gaze flicking to something over Hal's shoulder that only he could see and he looked ready to fight all over again. While what he'd just done to Kilowog was in Hal's mind, it really didn't concern the rookie Green Lantern too much.
"Sin, please," Hal cut in. His grip tightened on Sinestro's shoulders. "There's nothing there. Trust me. Don't you trust me?"
Struck by inspiration, because Sinestro was still looking very conflicted, Hal shifted his focus to his ring and silently ordered a check up of Sinestro's biology. When he had it, he held it up for Sinestro to see.
"Look," Hal implored. "Something's affecting you. Surely you can see that."
Although still wary, Sinestro did look and his eyes widened in surprise. "I believe you," he said after a hesitation. His own hands went up in surrender.
Relieved, Hal sighed, though he was then thinking that he should've known Sinestro was more willing to believe cold fact than any emotional appeal. That was ignoring of course, how Hal had very much succeeded in calming Sinestro down and had been the one to think of showing Sinestro the scan. In the end, it wasn't a bad success.