A young man with a side parting sat facing the camera, grinning a simpering white toothed smile. The Opal News logo appeared in the corner of the screen, spinning translusently.
"Opal City tonight is in a state of shock. Andrew Marshall, the last Starman, is dead." He paused to let the masses have the news sink in.
"The city is free again. As we speak Police Officers from outside the city have been called in to help with the clearing of corrupt officials named in last year's damning Claremont report. This document had until today been banned in the city. With the death of Marshall in the early hours of the morning, this terrible blight on the city and the name of Starman is ended."
Starman DC Future Shock
Issue 1
Written and Edited by Mark Peyton
Chapter 1 STAR IN THE GUTTER
5 Hours Earlier
The man in black emerged from the shadows. Bedecked in a simple suit, his favourite top hat resting on his brow, he moved quietly through the metal corridors of this monstrosity in his city. His cane was held pensively to his chest as he stopped to listen. The dark in this building was not all his to command. For the first time in a long while he felt uncomfortable with the darkness. A loud thud directed his attention down a corridor to his right. He moved slowly but firmly. Normally when he traversed the buildings in his city he swelled with the history around. But this building.... this building was dead to him.
He turned the corner to see this building's architect, laying motionless on the floor, his eyes staring unblinking. The man in black looked around, then back at the dead man. He turned to look over the man. The dead man was dressed in a formal suit, cut in the latest fashion, with a star pendant on his lapel. His one hand lay on his chest while his other arm was stretched out and surrounded by darkness. In his hand rested a staff. Gold for most of its length, simple in design, the head of the rod carved into an arch which looped back. It quietly hummed with power. The man in black looked with a little awe and smiled. Quickly realising he was reminiscing, he shook himself and set about prying open the dead man's fingers. Normally he would have the shadows do the dirty work but this was a piece of history. He eased the rod out of the hand, turned and spat on the dead man's face. The moisture trickled down over his cheek. The man in black rose quickly and with urgency fled the steel monstrosity. The darkness closed in.
Now
Alex Dare dictated into his notebook keeping one eye on the vid-screen. He had the screen split into three, the sound playing on all of them merging to form a jumble. Still he picked out words and altered the sound so excerpts played to him.
"Today was a good day for news," he thought to no-one in particular. Shame Marshall hadn't died earlier before Opal had become the new Hub City. Hell. It competed with Bludhaven for the shithole prizes. Just had classier architecture - and better reporters, of course.
The screen spewed forth information at him. He pushed back his red hair from his glasses and stroked his chin. His green eyes looked over the screen scanning how each channel presented roughly the same material; with only the faces and the people's reactions changing.
Opal obviously seemed to feel some dread weight had been lifted from its shoulders. Oh yeah, of course all the corruption had gone. Seemingly the idiot masses believed that. He shook his head and went back to his dictating.
Now
The TV played in the background "Shut that off. I'm trying to think here."
"Oh yes, of course Lord Daniel. I aim only to please."
"Yeah, yeah. Just mute it or something. My math ain't what it used to be." Daniel Ludlow smiled squinting his eyes as he added up a list of numbers. He scratched his nose, his tongue between his teeth. "And you're sure you'll throw in the 'Joes with this?" he said looking up at his companion.
"I said I would, didn't I? It's a good deal and you know it." Joe walked around the counter, a slight whirr as his leg moved.
"Well I'm generous to a fault." Daniel looked down at his pad and looked up sharply, his long black hair falling back. "Ninety for the lot. Do you deliver?"
"Of course, Lord Daniel. I'll giftwrap it and all. Might take a few days. I'd prefer not to move any stuff till all this death stuff has blown over. You hear that half the police force got canned? Shit, they'll send in the Corpers if we're not careful!"
"Now there's something to look forward to."
"Any luck they'll nuke the Opal like Coast City got done."
"I'd miss our little chats if they did. 'sides I like the old town."
"You would. Want some more tea?"
Now
Melanie Kayle turned off the TV to the moans of the kids. "Sorry kids the cartoons are over. Lets go through to the playroom instead." She gathered some of her charges and herded them through. Her long brown hair was tied back. Her blue eyes glinted with tears.
Marshall was dead. The family name wasn't mud anymore. Granddaddy Jack could stop spinning in his grave. One of the kids pulled on her dress and she picked him up, smiling at him brightly.
"Come on Timmy. You want to do some painting?"
"Yes Miss. Why are you sad?"
"I'm not. Come on."
Now
The redhairded man flipped off the TV. He tapped out his cigarettes and held up the file. It burned brightly as he set it alight. 'Look after number one. Marshall was dead. Let's make sure I don't get dragged down too.'
2 Hours Earlier
The room was quiet. A listener would not have even heard its occupant breathing. He sat motionless in an armchair, legs crossed, his polished shoes glinting from what little light was present. He had sat in this room for maybe a couple of months since his employer had last had need of his services. He had served for so long he did not remember if he had ever been human. He was Mr Sin. He was loyal. His pale expression did not truly alter his oriental appearance. It was his red eyes that most unnerved if you ever had the chance to look into them. He had, for a while, taken to wearing shades as was the fashion, but the expressions of those who had knocked them off had pleased him, so he had removed them completely. His face at the moment was a study of expressionlessness. He betrayed neither anticipation nor dread. That was not something that most people could achieve when they were to meet his employer. He knew he was to be called for tonight. He had heard the thud of Marshall's body hitting the ground and the footsteps which had removed the rod from the building. His employer would not be pleased. Good - it meant he would have free reign to kill.
Now
The man in black emerged from the shadow. He looked around his study "No disturbance. Good."
The door opened and in stepped a shorter bald man in shirt and tie. He had a business like air about him, but dressed quite drabbly next to the man in black's finery. "Good afternoon Sir. I trust your business went well?" the bald man asked, not looking into the man in black's eyes.
"As well as could be expected, I suppose. Do you have the information I requested?"
"Yes of course, sir. Dossiers on all four. I think one can be ignored, in my opinion." The bald man handed over four fairly thick dossiers, tightly bound and immaculately organised.
The man in black opened the top file. "I see what you mean. Corruption isn't what we're looking for here. Matt wouldn't appreciate it, but I can't see the family spirit running here. Well, if this one is tainted then I shall have to assume that the opposition know this and will not go after him. That just leaves the others. Three contenders for a legacy. I just wish I had time to ask if any of them had the right sorts of dreams."
"I've had no reports of any watchers on any of them so far. Can we assume we have a little time before trouble comes looking for them?"
"I presume trouble will call here first. Have you moved what I instructed?"
"Yes, sir. All instructions have been carried out to the letter."
The man in black looked around "Good. I'd hate for some of my journals to catch the brunt of my actions. Now carry out your instructions, but be careful. Opal is about to become very dangerous."
Later
Alex stood in the glare of the camera light as it hovered in front of him. "As I stand here I can see Police Corp officers shifting filing cabinets into this secure compound. Here the authorities will start the long task of assembling information for prosecutions against those officials who were involved in the corruption of the Marshall period."
He paused. It had already become fashionable to refer to the blot on the Starman name with the glib Marshall period. Like the problems in Ireland in the Twentieth Century were washed away by calling them 'The Troubles'.
He moved over to a burly, coloured man in dress uniform. The camera swung with him, his assistant checking no gormless spectator was in shot waving to his mum.
"I'm here with the newly appointed Opal Commissioner of Police, Anthony Davis. Commissioner Davis - if I may ask you, how effective do you think these measures can be?"
Anthony Davis shifted in his stance. They'd got him in because he represented a return to the old ideals of police work. He knew that he was a figurehead; he'd have to work to be anything more. The uniform was a little tight on him, but his stern though pleasant face betrayed no sign of his nervousness.
"These measures are designed to deal with those officers we have definite proof of misconduct of, and also to expose any who may have fallen through the net due to the speed of our actions. With the aid of other departments we hope to have filled any gaps the prosecutions may leave."
"So, will steps be taken to prevent this happening again?"
"As it stands, the only reason the situation was allowed to deteriorate the way it did was due to the actions of Andrew Marshall. The circumstances that allowed him to keep control will simply not be tolerated by Mediate or the other Corps again. In the event any heroes take his place my department will be taking a close interest in their activities to ensure no repeat performance."
Alex looked at Davis and realised he'd got his soundbite out of him. He shifted the camera to pan across the scene before his report finished, to be replaced by a montage of reactions.
Mr Sin sat on the building across the street from the reporter, poised like a gargoyle. The master said this was his first victim. He didn't look much. From his perch Mr Sin followed the red-headed man, bedecked in a sharp suit. There seemed little edge to him. Still, it was not his place to disagree with the master. He watched and waited for his prey to leave this badge-filled square. While he had no qualms about mass killings, the master preferred subtlety to avoid the attention of any do-gooders.
Daniel walked home through the oldtown. The streets were quiet. People were either too scared to be out, or in the new part of the city jeering at the Star Tower. He wanted to be indoors - there was a chill wind blowing. Zipping up his coat, he walked a little faster past a Terril Corporation poster. He looked ahead, but stopped as the shadows grew longer. Most normal people would have at least been disturbed by the shadow creatures that wove their way in front of him. Not Daniel Ludlow. No, he knew this for what it was. Had he been one of the original Ludlows, he would have feared this - or felt hate because these creatures heralded the arrival of the man the Ludlow family waged war against for nearly a century. But that had long since been settled when a Ludlow and this man had talked one day in the middle of a field, and gained some understanding.
The Shadows curled and lay still as the form of the man in black emerged. This was the Shade. If one man loved the city more than Daniel, it was him. He had seen it built and grow and rebuilt and grow once more.
"Good evening, Young Daniel," the Shade said in his oh-so English voice. "I trust I find you well.?"
Daniel looked at the Shade. In addition to his usual cane, he carried a staff wrapped in a dark green material. "Not too bad. Isn't it too early for Christmas presents?"
The Shade chuckled. "Oh how droll. It is funny you noticed this so quickly, it may well have much to do with your future."
Later Still
Alex climbed out of the Taxi, having cleared the fare. He pulled his coat around him, carrying a small case with him. He made his way over to the doors of his apartment, and fairly soon to his own front door. The door opened with the minimum of fuss and he walked in kicking it closed behind him. "Lights" he barked walking towards the kitchen.
Behind him a voice said "I'd much prefer the dark, but if you insist on seeing me kill you, I will oblige."
Alex whirled around edging back towards the kitchen. In front of him stood a small oriental man with glowing red eyes. His face showed no expression, though his eyes flared. Alex's face however, was a mix between anger and fear.
"Who are you?" he demanded, still backing away.
"Why, little Starboy - I am the man who is going to kill you."
Chapter 2 SHAKING OFF THE GRIME
Melanie Kayle closed the door to the nursery and locked it carefully. From across the road a bald man watched her checking his watch. It was time. He walked across to Melanie, stopping in front of her. She didn't look much to him; her long brown hair covered one of her eyes. She was small, 5'6" at the most, very thin, dressed in a simple grey skirt with a white top. It wasn't her physique his employer was most interested in, it was her soul.
"Miss Kayle, could I ask you to accompany me?" he asked plainly.
"Accompany you where? Who are you?" Melanie replied, regarding the strange bald man who stood in front of her.
"My employer would like a word with you. It is in your own best interests to come with me."
"Your employer? And who might that be?"
"Somebody connected to your heritage, Miss Kayle. Please don't be obstinate. I mean you no harm."
Melanie nodded that knowing oh yeah nod that had got her into so much trouble at school. "I don't reckon I've got much choice, have I?"
"I wish there was something I could say to allay your fears. But my employer has given me strict instructions. If you would make your way to the green car we will be on our way."
He directed her to a green Derago, still shiny considering its age, and opened the door to allow or force her inside. Melanie climbed in warily, settling into a ride to who knows where. The bald man opened his door, then climbed in securing both doors. The car whirred as its engine started, its wheels folding underneath as it started to ascend.
Now
Alex had never been in a situation where he feared for his life. He'd been in danger before, but there had always been some element of control. Maybe that had been why he never followed his brother into the police. Now here he was confronted by some crazy Asian guy with glowing red eyes who wanted him dead.
"Are you sure you've got the right guy? My name is Dare."
"Quite sure, Starboy. My employer left very detailed instructions for you." Mr Sin advanced towards his prey.
As his opponent came toward him, Alex bolted into the kitchen desperately searching for some weapon. He flung open drawers, quickly grabbing a cutter. Mr Sin followed slowly, purposefully.
"There is no escape, Starboy."
Alex ran round the kitchen trying to head back into the main body of the apartment. He flung crocks and pans behind him vainly. He wasn't going to die, he kept telling himself. No way was someone who couldn't even get his name right going to kill him. He pushed himself through the door, slamming it shut. He stood not breathing, readying the cutter. Mr Sin continued to move slowly through the kitchen, undeterred by any of his prey's efforts. He pushed open the door to be met by a flash of light as Alex plunged the cutter at his face. His face was still expressionless as the blade struck him in his left eye. The red energy flared as Mr Sin swiped at this annoyance. An eerie red light punctuated by flashes filled the air around him as Alex bolted for the door.
"Starboy, I'm going to make you suffer for this," Sin shouted behind him, firing a blast at his prey's retreating form. The bolt crashed into the door and through it as Alex slammed the door open.
Alex ran, pressing his body against the wall and through the door to the emergency chute. The air rushed around as he was sucked down, away from the blasts.
Elsewhere
The window cut smoothly as the host ran its claws over the pane. Inside the host screamed and raged powerless under its control. The Host's face was covered by an obsidian mask, powerful in its blackness. The possessor enjoyed feeling the Host's rage. It fuelled its form and actions. This hadn't been its form before, but its enemy had confined it to this for the last oh so many years. It would be free. It would rain revenge down upon its enemy. The host made its way forward, activating a generator that shorted the beams long enough for her to get the object of her possessor's attentions. A black jewel, a diamond of the night. Inside her head the possessor rejoiced as the first step to its freedom was at hand.
Now
Daniel sat facing the Shade, his legs crossed. "So, I'm in danger because - through you - I've become linked to the Starman?"
"That is about the sum of it, yes,Daniel. But it is not simply that. The city chooses its champions. It senses greatness." The Shade sat his cane between his legs, his hat resting on the table beside the canvas covered rod.
"Greatness. Or does it just have it in for junk dealers?"
"Jack loved this city as you do. It was not only being his father's son that made him a candidate."
"Whatever. As it stands I've still got some killer after me."
"Yes, that is true. I propose to arm you to deal with him if he should come upon you before we are ready."
"Ready for what?" Daniel got up turning his back on the Shade.
"Ready to take action. But first, I must talk to the others."
Daniel turned looking intently at Shade. "What others? Shade, give me some straight answers."
"In time young Daniel. All I can give you at this moment is a rod and instructions to stay low until I summon you."
"What's to stop me just taking the rod and flying off to save my tail?"
"Nothing except yourself. You may run and escape, or you could be hunted down. Either way, you will be leaving this city you love to ruin."
Daniel threw his hands up in the air. "Stay low you say." He accepted the small energy rod that Shade handed to him. "I'm not getting the Star Staff?"
"No, Daniel. It is a beacon to your enemy. It would only attract attention. The rod you have will serve the same purpose without half the danger.
"OK," Daniel said turning the rod over in his hands "How do I use this?"
Later
Alex panted as he stood pressing the intercom. "For God's sake, John be in!" A face appeared on the screen. The man on it had the same tint of red in his hair Alex did. It was longer than Alex's and he had a small goatee. His eyes carried more tiredness in them too.
"Yes?" the face said.
Alex looked into the screen. "John, let me in. I need help."
The door buzzed and opened. Alex walked in quickly, looking behind him. He made his way up to the apartment rapidly and opened the door, to be greeted by his brother aiming a gun at him.
"Whoa, John. Don't shoot me. Somebody already tried today."
"Who? Alex, you look like shit. Who's after my little brother?"
"I don't know John. He kept calling me Starboy. It must have something to do with Marshall, but how the hell its connected to me I don't know."
Alex made his way into the apartment, pulling off his sweat soaked shirt. If he'd had eyes in the back of his head he might have noticed his older brother wince at the mention of the name Marshall.
"Who was it? Why haven't you been to the Police?"
"Some oriental guy with glowing eyes. A little out of the cop's league given the current situation. Besides..." Alex paused clenching his fist ".. I want him. Have you got a gun you can give me?"
"Alex are you sure about this?" John walked towards his brother.
"John, stop doing kid brother on me. Yes I'm sure. The bastard pushed some buttons in me. I'm fighting back on my terms. Are you going to give me the gun or not?"
"I don't suppose I have any choice. You want my help?"
"No, John. I don't think Dad would be stoked if I got us both killed. 'sides you can kill the bastard if I balls up."
Later
Melanie had sat in the same room for nearly an hour. And been served tea. If this was a kidnapping then it wasn't like anything she'd seen in the trids . Hell, the guy had asked if she wanted cucumber sandwiches. The room was sparse. The walls were lined with heavy, empty oak bookcases. Who read books nowadays? She knew she was being watched. She didn't know where from, but she felt her neck tingle. The door to the room jiggled and then opened. In stepped a tall man in black clothes, top hat, and cane.
"Miss Kayle. I'm sorry for the manner in which you were brought here. Time was of the essence, and etiquette had to be thrown to the wind. I was a friend of your Grandfather Jack's and to his father before him. I am called the Shade."
"I know who you are. Why am I here?"
"Miss Kayle, a killer has declared an interest in those connected to the Starman heritage. I believe your life is in danger. I had you brought here for your safety. I have a gift for you."
Melanie shifted in her chair. She'd heard tales about the Shade before, but this was a man who had known her great great grandfather in the prime of his life. Shade moved across the room to a desk and pulled out what she knew to be a gravity rod. It was the sort of thing you knew when your family had been superheroes.
"Is that the gift?" she asked plainly.
"Yes. A device with much history attached to it. I wish you to have it to defend yourself and I may ask you to use it to help the city later."
"Help the city? What do you mean?"
"I've given another of these to a young man, and I will have need of your skills if we are to save your lives. Now would you care for some more tea?"
Elsewhere
Dan Kelley ran, his breathing erratic. He had to get out of here.
"There's nowhere to run. I made certain of it after Starboy's escape."
He had come to drop off some tapes for Alex and ran into this maniac. He rounded a corner to be hit by a blast. The glowing red eyes came closer. The pain of the blast seared in Dan's shoulder.
"I'm going to make an example of you for Starboy. If I cannot find any of them, I will kill all those they hold dear. Now don't scream too loudly. This will hurt a great deal."
Mr Sin enjoyed his work, especially when they screamed.
Later
Alex pulled on his jacket. He'd tried to find a Jack Knight memorial jacket, but no luck. Instead he'd had to make do with this black military jacket. At least it'd give him some warmth and protection. He hooked it at the front and stared at himself in the mirror. He looked about ten pounds heavier in this thing. It had loads of pockets and he put whatever he could lay his hands on in them. Over his eyes he wore a pair of goggles and a smooth black helmet covered his hair. If he was going to kill someone he didn't want his face plastered all over the news. If he survived he wanted a life to come back to. The gun his brother had given him rested on the table. He picked it up and held it in his hand checking the magazine. It felt strange in his grasp as he aimed it at various points around the room. As he did, he noticed the shadows forming. He spun around trying to make out shapes.
"Do not worry young Dare. I mean you no harm." Alex span around to face the voice.
"You'll excuse me being cautious after the day I've had. I take it you're the Shade?"
"Well met. You can put down the gun. I don't think it's quite the right image."
Alex studied the man and placed the gun back where he had picked it up from. "What do you mean by image?"
Shade handed over the canvas covered rod. "This is what I mean by image. It seems the enemy sees you as the successor. I intend to give them what they want."
Alex pulled off the canvas and gazed at the staff. He felt its weight in his hand. Now this ... this felt right.
Next Issue: The three Successors meet and the origin story concludes. Which one is going to be Starman? Plus - more on the Black Mask. And high above Opal, Shade and Mr Sin clash.
Opal Heights
Welcome, or welcome back, to the Opal City of the future. Let me tell you a story. There once was a series very like this one called Starman DCF. It went on for over a year and had about 30 or so issues written for it. Anyway for various reasons Starman left DCF and went looking for a new home. DC Future Shock is that new home, brought together by many of the same names that have been running Marvel Future Shock since Jan 1999. So what's different? To start with only little bits. For people who've read the original series this issue and the next one will look very similar to issues 1-4 of DCF. However, in each issue I'll try and put in new bits that make sense with where our world is heading. All DCF references have gone so the world is quite different and the changes to Opal are subtle at first, but one major element in the background will be revealed in time. The world of DCFS and Mediate will be better explored in other titles to start with while Starman redoes it's back catalogue and gets itself up to its old point.
The structure of the series will work differently this time as I'm going to rejig the running order and throw new issues into the mix. Of course some issues are going to have major rewrites because they were grounded in another world. I'm hoping this picks up new readers as well as giving its old readers something new to enjoy. Getting up to the new issue point is all about balancing flooding new readers with stuff to read while still getting up to the old point. Well not quite the old point. Where Dcf finished really can't be exactly duplicated in the new world, but those new twists are what makes it fun. Needless to say this time you'll get to see what I had originally planned for the series rather than the modifications I made later.
So its back to old Opal to see if we can find out what happened to Andrew Marshall, for which there is a whole new twist, and to see if we finally get to find out who the Master is.
Take a look around DCFS and try some of our new series as well especially Rob Sutton's Sandman series which looks to be a rather interesting spin on what's gone before and something called Superman by Alex Peyton.
Thanks to the two Alexs - Tam and Peyton for ideas and support on the originals. And to Jac, the other Alex (Cook) and Rob Sutton on this one. As ever thanks to Luba who got pulled into all the madness by being the first person to sign up to my mailing list all those moons ago.
Any thoughts, rants or demands for the return of certain ghastly suits to me at Starman26@hotmail.com
Now go read issue 2 it came out too. How's that for service.