Korugarian Crisis (Emerald Knights)

Episode 2 of the first season of Emerald Knights. Taking place a couple weeks after the events of the first episode, Hal Jordan is now ready for combat in space. He travels with his mentor, Thaal Sinestro, to visit his home planet Korugar. However, secrets are revealed as the duo touch down on the planet, and Hal learns that his mentor holds a truly dark secret. Meanwhile, John Stewart and Kilowog head to Ungara, where they have to evacuate and rescue a planet full of reluctant citizens. Martian Manhunter appears to help the duo Lanterns save Ungara.

Story
“Korugarian Crisis” S1E2

Note: Takes Place two weeks after the events of S1E1

On the planet Korugar, children run from the firefight happening in the streets. Korugarian rebels face green construct militia soldiers, who march through the streets. The soldiers are winning. Leading the group of rebels is the Korugarian Katma Tui, who was previously seen in The Trinity: Warworld.

Katma Tui

Fall back! Fall back!

Katma Tui ends up shooting some constructs down, but is forced to surrender with 4 other rebels as she gets surrounded by them. Revealed to be controlling the soldiers is none other than Sinestro.

Sinestro

Katma Tui, former Liberator of Korugar, you and your posse are under arrest for treason.

Title Card: Emerald Knights

In space, Hal and Sinestro fly toward Sinestro’s home planet, Korugar, in Sector 1417.

Hal

You know, Sinestro, it’s pretty exciting being able to visit your home world.

Sinestro

Yes, I share your enthusiasm Earthman, I just wish we could be visiting under.. better circumstances.

Hal

What are you talking about?

Sinestro

Well, there’s been a rebel uprising. Turmoil plagues the streets, civilians are needlessly being injured, some dying. We need to stop the rebels where they stand.

Hal

Damn, and here I was thinking this was a house visit

Sinestro

Another time, Earthman, another time. We’re here.

The master and student land on the planet, and civilians back away from them, closing doors and shutting locks.

Hal

What’s that about?

Sinestro

They’re simply afraid, they don’t know who to trust anymore. We have other matters to worry about though, find and protect civilians from the rebellion, I’ll find their leader.

Hal

And who might that be?

Sinestro

If it must concern you, Arin Sur. She inspires this.. filth to fester on Korugar. I will stop her before it can spread further.

Hal

Arin Sur.. like-

Sinestro

Yes, like your fallen predecessor. My friend, Abin Sur. (Pause). She is his sister.

Hal

Jesus Christ.

Sinestro

Remember, Hal Jordan. These are no longer the people they once were, these are monsters.

Sinestro flies away, and Hal goes to save civilians. As Hal surveys the land, he stops a building from falling on innocent civilians. He cleans the debris up, and waves to the civilians. They simply run away.

Hal

So weird.

Meanwhile, John Stewart has been sent to evacuate the citizens of Ungara, the planet’s core is unstable. Tagging along with him is Kilowog, they fly in space with a cargo ship, to hold the citizens in.

John

Kilowog, I want to thank you again for helping me out with this. You know how I hate these kinds of missions.

Kilowog

Yeah, well don’t pull a hammy about it poozer. Let’s just get these people off the planet.

John

Agreed.

The two land the cargo ship, and look at the crowding civilians.

John

How do we wanna do this?

Kilowog

Allow me.

Kilowog forms a megaphone with his lantern ring, and speaks to the civilians

Kilowog

ATTENTION! We need you to evacuate the planet IMMEDIATELY, all of your lives are at RISK!

The civilians look at him, and continue to go about their day. John and Kilowog look at each other confused.

Kilowog

We need to GO! NOW!

The civilians continue to go about their day. John grabs the shoulder of an older Ungaran.

John

Ma’am, please, your entire planet is at risk.

Older Ungaran

Leave me alone!

She swats his hand off and hobbles away as fast as possible.

Kilowog

Well that went well.

An Ungaran approaches the duo.

Ungaran

They don’t trust you. Not since the red-faced devil came.

John

Red-faced devil?

Ungaran

He held a ring like yours. He used it to terrorize the planet, deliver his own brand of justice.

Kilowog

So, if nobody trusts us, how come you do?

Ungaran

Because, I’m not like the others. Follow me.

The Lanterns follow the Ungaran into an apartment building. Back on Korugar, Hal is still saving citizens from things like car crashes and falling debris. They still don’t like him.

Hal

Jesus, this place is a mess.

Random Voice

It’s our mess.

Hal gets shot from behind, and turns around to see a Korugarian fleeing. He chases him down an alley.

Hal

You know I can fly faster than you can run, right?

Random Rebel

We’re counting on that.

Suddenly, Hal is caught in a sonic trap- two structures that deliver a piercing sound frequency in Hal’s ears, knocking him out.

Ungaran Female

Well done, Imi. Let’s take him to the cave.

Imi

Right away ma’am. Alright, let’s get moving!

Imi and several others carry Hal Jordan through the alleys, taking him to a dank cave. In the cave. Hal finally wakes up, he’s been strapped to a chair and his ring has been taken off. He’s in his civilian clothes.

Hal

What? What’s going on?

Ungaran Female

An Earthman. Interesting, I had thought the Corps only had one. You obviously aren’t him.

Hal

The name’s Ted Kord, where am I lady?

Ungaran Female

My name is Arin Sur. You’re in our cave, our base. You’re now at the mercy of the Korugarian rebellion.

Hal

So you’re the famous Arin Sur I’ve heard so much about. Your brother would be ashamed.

Arin slaps Hal across the face.

Arin Sur

Mention my brother again, and your ring will be sent to look for a new master.

Hal

Why are you hurting these people for, huh? Power? Money?

Imi

He can’t be serious, WE’RE hurting the people?

Arin Sur

Now Imi, let’s be patient with him. How much do you know, Lantern?

Hal

Only that you’re rebelling against the government, needlessly putting people in harm’s way.

Arin Sur

And who’s been telling you this?

Hal

My mentor. Sinestro.

Arin Sur

Well, Ted, have you ever asked Thaal what exactly we rebel against?

Hal

Ted?- oh right. The government, it was made pretty clear.

Arin Sur

Thaal Sinestro IS the Government.

Hal

What? Okay, assuming I believe you, what does that change?

Arin Sur

He uses that power ring of yours to exert his will on these people. Making them bend to his every command.

Hal

You’re lying. Sinestro, sure he’s a little controlling, but he’d never-

Arin Sur

See for yourself.

She turns on a projector, and Hal watches Sinestro commit atrocities. Public executions (using actual guillotines, his ring can’t exert lethal force), obedience camps, creating soldiers to roam the streets, home invasion. Hal is horrified.

Hal

Oh.. Oh my God. No, this has to be doctored, fabricated.

Arin Sur

Even you have to know this to be true. Ted Kord, if you truly fight for justice, you will aid our fight against Thaal, take him down for good.

Hal takes a minute to think about this.

Hal

My name’s not Ted.

Arin Sur

I assumed as such. I can see your name tag.

She points to the Jordan on his work clothes.

Hal

Yeah, sorry. Hal Jordan is ready to help you, however I can.

Arin Sur

Good. Here’s what we need to do.

In the Ungaran apartment, John and Kilowog sit on a couch as the Ungaran locks his door.

John

Lovely home. Why are we here.

Ungaran

Because, John,

The Ungaran shape shifts, slowly revealing that he is Martian Manhunter.

Martian Manhunter

We have similar interests.

John

You’re.. You’re the Martian, the one who fought against Metallo with Superman.

Martian Manhunter

Precisely. My name is J’onn J’onnz, you may also call me the Martian Manhunter.

Kilowog

Lovely introduction, really, beautiful stuff, but we need to be saving those blockheads outside.

Martian Manhunter

Yes, I’ve been posing as an Ungaran here for a couple months now

John

To investigate the core?

Martian Manhunter

No, unrelated reasons. It was only when you two came I learned of any such threat. I can help evacuate the citizens with one of you, the other must drill to the planet’s core, figure out the issue.

John

Why doesn’t my friend here help evacuate the citizens, while I drill to the core

Martian Manhunter

Excellent. We must work with haste, Godspeed John Stewart.

As John flies out of the open window, MM shapeshifts back to an Ungaran.

Martian Manhunter

Now, let’s get these people to safety.

Kilowog

God, that’s freaky. Sorry, I ain’t mean nothing by it-

Martian Manhunter

It is quite alright, Kilowog. I am aware that my.. abilities can be unsettling. Now, let us get to work.

Back on Korugar, Hal, Arin and the rebels head for Katma Tui’s prison cell.

Hal

So this, Katma Tui, why was she so important? I mean I get that nobody gets left behind but-

Arin Sur

Katma Tui was our lead strategist. She defected from Thaal’s Liberators of Korugar and joined the rebellions.

Hal

You know, you keep saying Thaal like you know the guy.. do you?

Arin Sur

..yes. We were once lovers, husband and wife. After he revealed who he truly was, I left him with our daughter.

Hal

Oh, wow. I never knew he-

Arin Sur

There’s a lot about Thaal Sinestro that he wouldn’t tell you. He is as slimy as serpents come.

Hal

Speak of the devil- WATCH OUT!

Sinestro tries to drop debris on the rebels, but Hal protects them with a force field.

Sinestro

Earthman? What are you doing with this fifth.

Hal

What I was sworn to do with my power, what you refused to do since the day you got the ring.

Hal starts flying upwards to meet Sinestro in the air.

Sinestro

Your human life is as insignificant to me as yours to an ant, you dare compare yourself to my power? Thaal Sinestro? I am the greatest Green Lantern this galaxy has ever known.

Hal

Oh no! Where have I heard that one before?

Sinestro

So be it, Earthman.

Sinestro attacks Hal with a serpent construct, and Hal forms a hand to grab it and defend himself. Sinestro creates knives, Hal deflects them with a baseball bat. Meanwhile, the rebels use this distraction to head into the jailhouse and free Katma.

Arin Sur

Let them fight, we need to go.

Back on Ungara, John drills to the center of the planet in a makeshift drilling machine, determined to find the core. Finally, he gets there and finds the artificial core, he recognizes the technology.

John

Oh God, it’s gonna blow

He creates a specific piece of the machine that would keep it from blowing up, flies upwards and asks Kilowog for what he needs, the piece still connected to his ring.

John

Kilowog! I need a Calic Nut! Now!

Kilowog

Do we even have those?

John

It’s in the ship, hurry!

Kilowog looks for the piece, and finds it.

Kilowog

Got it!

He throws the piece towards John, and John returns to put it in the machine. He carefully unplugs his construct, creates a wrench and slowly places the new one in. After a tense moment, he succeeds and flies back upwards.

John

Oh thank God. Kilowog, how’s the evacuation going?

Kilowog

It’s going alright, they still don’t like us much.

John

And that’s fine. Even though I fixed the core, we should still get these people off planet for a day or so, just in case.

Kilowog

You know this ship won’t hold everyone, right?

John

We’ll make several trips. Ungara isn’t a big planet.

Suddenly, Martian Manhunter appears in his normal form.

Martian Manhunter

Correct, John. I detect 127,374 life forms on this planet.

John

J’onn, I wanted to thank you for your help here. Without you-

Martian Manhunter

Please, there is no need to thank me. Lantern, my mission on this planet has proved.. fruitless. I now realize what I came to look for will not be found here. If you would have me, I would like to aid you in your future endeavors to protect the galaxy.

John

Hey, works for me. Do you have an extra cargo ship by any chance?

Martian Manhunter

Several hundred light years away, yes.

John

Forget I asked.

Martian Manhunter

Very well, then. If you require nothing more of me-

John

I actually do have one question, what were you doing here on Ungara?

Martian Manhunter

(Pause.) Too long a story, John. Too long and too painful. I’d like to “cut my losses” here, if you don’t mind.

John

Of course J’onn.

John turns around and flies away, towards the civilians. John looks at him fly away, and soon follows.

Back on Korugar, Hal and Sinestro continue to fight. Hal is now on the offensive, throwing fighter jets, baseballs at Sinestro’s medieval shields and protection bubbles.

Hal

I looked up to you Sinestro! I trusted you!

Sinestro

Then join me Hal! The two of us, we can rule the galaxy with an iron fist!

Hal

And keep these people afraid of us?

Sinestro

Fear is the most powerful instrument, Hal Jordan.

Hal

I don’t even recognize you anymore.

Sinestro

So be it old chum.

Sinestro smacks Hal away with a fly swatter, and Hal crashes into a house. Sinestro slowly flies towards him, and removes the recovering Hal’s ring with a hand construct.

Sinestro

If you don’t want to use fear, I’ll simply show you fear.

Hal

Sorry “friend”, never been the scared type.

Sinestro

And you will know pain as such. These rings do not allow me to carry a lethal sentence, but I have the next best thing.

Sinestro creates a torture chamber with the ring, intending to put Hal inside it when he hears a voice from a Guardian.

Guardian

Enough!

Suddenly, Sinestro’s ring is recalled from his finger and sent deep into space.

Sinestro

No.. What HAVE YOU DONE??

Sinestro looks up and he sees one Guardian, Ganthet, paired with one Lantern, Tomar-Re.

Ganthet

Green Lantern 1417, Thaal Sinestro. You are under arrest and will be tried by the Guardians Council.

Sinestro

For what?

Ganthet

You have used your power to invoke fear upon these innocent people, you abuse the power you clearly do not respect.

Sinestro

You.. you old fool! Can’t you see? Can’t you see I was keeping my planet from devolving into chaos, into filth?

Tomar-Re

To what end, Thaal? A planet full of loyal slaves that bend to your whim?

Sinestro

Tomar? You agree with this? You SPINELESS COWARD! YOU’RE ALL A BUNCH OF COWARDS!

Tomar-Re locks him up with his construct, strapping his mouth down as well.

Tomar-Re

I’ve heard enough. Recently, we’ve heard reports of a red-faced devil terrorizing Ungara, we believe that to be you as well.

Ganthet

Green Lantern 2813, we must be leaving now. Green Lantern 2814.2, I trust you can find your way back to Oa?

Hal

Yeah.. uh yes sir.

Ganthet

Excellent.

Ganthet and Tomar-Re fly away with an apprehended Sinestro, as Hal puts his ring back on to check on the rebels. He sees the rebels celebrating now that Katma Tui is free, and goes to congratulate her. He is stopped by Arin Sur.

Arin Sur

I wouldn’t.

Hal

What? Why not, I just helped take down Sinestro?

Arin Sur

Green Lanterns are still a… touchy subject for Katma. She was raised to become Sinestro’s most elite warrior, she only recently joined our rebellion. Her memories of Green Lantern induced trauma are still fresh.

Hal

I, I understand. I’d best get going then.

Arin Sur

Hal, I’d like to thank you. When Sinestro came into power, I began to doubt my brother’s true intentions before he died. I began to think all Green Lanterns were warmongers bent on global domination. I now see how wrong I was, and I am so happy for it.

Hal

Arin.. this ring, it came from your brother. When he died, he gave it to me and I took his place. It still doesn’t really feel like it’s mine.

Arin Sur

Then it was by fate we met Hal Jordan. I’m proud that my brother’s legacy can live through you, and don’t ever doubt the legitimacy of your gift. You are truly worthy of the emerald light.

Hal smiles, appreciating what Arin said.

Arin Sur

Farewell Earthman, until our paths may cross again.

Arin Sur turns around to the celebration, disappearing in the crowd. Hal heads back to Oa. Above Oa, he finds Martian Manhunter. He waves, for MM to float still, crossing his arms. On Oa, he finds John and Kilowog among chaos.

Hal

Who’s the green guy?

John

A new friend. Where were you?

Hal

On Korugar, guys Sinestro is-

Kilowog

Under arrest. The hell you think this big ol crowd is for?

Hal

I just, I can’t believe it. The greatest of us..

John

He clearly wasn’t. Anything you knew about your old teacher, Hal? Delete it from your memory. This is a different man now.

Suddenly, multiple rings start to speak at once, calling several GLs to the chamber.

Rings

Green Lantern 2813, report to the Guardians. Green Lantern 3014, report to the Guardians. Green Lantern 1418, report to the Guardians. Green Lantern 2815, report to the Guardians.

Kilowog’s Ring

Green Lantern 0674, report to the Guardians.

Kilowog

Interesting. Guess that's my cue.

Hal

Good luck in there big guy.

John

Lord knows he’s gonna need it.

Meanwhile, a bunch of Lanterns collect in the Guardians chambers, as Sinestro is in a prison underneath them.

Guardian

Green Lanterns, you are being sent to the planet Betrassus.

Appa Ali Appsa

There, you will face Starro, an intergalactic telepath conqueror bent on enslaving the universe.

Sayd

You need to stop him before he destroys that planet.

Ganthet

Before he enslaves the entire existence. Are you all ready?

The Green Lanterns all nod in unison.

Ganthet

Then proceed with your objectives, and Godspeed to you all.

The legion of Lanterns fly off the planet Oa and head for Betrassus, unready for what’s to come.

End Episode

Mid-Credit Scene

Celebrating through the streets of Korugar, the rebels parade and march, knowing the rest of the Liberators of Korugar stand no match without Sinestro. As Katma goes home, she finds something glowing on her dresser. A Lantern ring. She looks at it, almost admiring it, then hides it in her dresser. She goes back outside to celebrate.

Cast

 * Chris Pine as Hal Jordan
 * Mark Strong as Thaal Sinestro
 * John David Washington as John Stewart
 * Ron Perlman as Kilowog
 * Harry Lennix as Martian Manhunter
 * Naomi Scott as Katma Tui
 * Leighton Meester as Arin Sur
 * Patrick Stewart as Ganthet
 * Michael Gambon as Appa Alli Apsa
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Sayd