Jack Knight created by Tony Harris and James Robinson
The wind rushed past his head as he spiralled down, back towards the city. The staff was safe in his hands. He clung to it like a safety blanket. But there was something more to it than that? It had felt right the first time Alex had held it. He'd been transfixed by it, barely nodding when the Shade had given him another gift. A simple Sheriff¹s badge which he wore on the right breast of his coat. As much as the staff, this had been part of Jack Knight when he was Starman.
He pulled up sharply to avoid crashing into Libra Avenue. The air cooled around him. Beneath, people pointed to the sky. He was making news. The feeling of freedom was better than seeing a by-line with his name on it. The city lay at his feet shimmering and glowing. He flew up again, catching a glimpse of the Star Tower as he did. At its foot stood a jeering crowd. He hovered, observing them. The jeering seemed to stop replaced by hush. From behind, he heard the slow hum of an engine. Turning, he was dazzled by a spotlight aimed at him.
"Hold it right there. This is the Police. Make your way down to the ground", a tannoyed voice commanded.
For a second, Alex's instinct was to obey. Be the good citizen. He'd never said boo to a goose, never pressing the issue when instructions came to cease investigations that got too close to one of Marshall's little schemes. No - he didn't have to now. He looked past the light, smiled and shot up. Beneath, some cheers went up. Alex grinned, and then thought "No - they weren't cheering for me. They were cheering for Starman."
Starman DCFS
Issue 2
Written by Mark Peyton
Chapter 1
SLOW ASCENT
Daniel sat in WRX off Mermaid Street nursing his drink. He'd sat and watched the people mill by, indulging himself, soaking in their lives. God, how he wished he could be like them - not having to worry if some killer was waiting around the corner for him. His gaze looked across the bar where the vidscreen played the news. One guy at the bar whispered to the barmaid and she obligingly turned up the sound.
"News just in. Reports are coming in of sightings of a new Starman. With Andrew Marshall not yet buried officials are attempting to gain access to his corpse to verify its whereabouts. We'll bring you more information when we have it."
Daniel downed the remnants of his drink. If there was a new Starman, where did that leave him? Holding an antique rod, still hunted.
******
Paul Tam sat in his office, blowing on the hot drink he'd just prepared. The news said there was a new Starman. Good. Maybe this one would be a hero. Either way I'd better prepare a new area in the Museum. The Museum was nothing if not thorough. After all we have a section for a Starman no one on Earth ever saw.
******
The City continued its business. After the initial excitement of a new Starman, questions started to be asked. Who was it? Was Marshall back? Was it a he? Was this one a hero? How did they get the staff? Those who had stood outside the Star Tower were split over what the Starman looked like. One solitary man preached the Second Coming of Marshall. A woman who followed the Blessed Return of the Man of Steel heckled him shouting only the Superman could return from the dead. Only a few really believed things would get better. Little kids tried to listen for reports of a new hero. And Mr Sin listened to his master's displeasure.
******
Mr Harrison watched as Miss Kayle walked into the same bar as Mr Ludlow. Her watcher followed her in, noted his presence and walked over to him.
"Craig, it looks like they are grouping up. Mr Black won't be happy at all." The man took his seat next to him.
"No, Jason, he probably won't, but there's nothing we can do. Who knows - it may appeal to his sense of drama. As it stands we just sit and watch and call him if an emergency arises."
"I suppose so. Are we allowed to drink on duty?"
******
Though he was a conversation point across town, the Shade would probably have paid it little attention. He walked along the old town, conjuring plans in his head. It reminded him of planning heists to fox some gaudily coloured adversary or another. Only a few faces stood out amongst the crowd. Alex did not appear very brightly coloured. In fact, for his chosen role he bordered on the mundane. Jack had never been bright in clothes, if you excluded his sometimes appalling taste in shirts. He hoped he'd not made a mistake; perhaps his memories of Matt had made him look for something in Alex that simply wasn't there. The deed was done, and he had to press on with his plan. Either his city would shine again, or these were its dying days. He must gather his charges together if Opal was to be saved. Alex was the one who was most used to making an impression; he would serve to attract attention. The others were by nature more low-key, much more suited for the real job.
******
Melanie sat down the bar from Daniel. She'd had to carry a bag to house the rod, otherwise she'd have had strange looks in the street. She'd been wary of returning home to change into some more practical clothes. Her apartment had been trashed, but she'd gotten in and out with little time to survey the damage. Daniel looked up, smiled at her, a little anxious. He edged down the bar to her.
"Er. Hello. Do you mind some company? I'm sort of at a loose end." He looked at the woman. She looked about as nervous as he felt.
"No, I don't. I'm just trying to keep my head down." Melanie sipped her drink and then said, "Melanie."
The man smiled. "Daniel. I'm sorry about this. It's just sitting on my own I feel like I'm waiting for the execution."
"That's a strange thing to say, but I know what you mean. I sort of feel the same. What do you do?"
"Erm. Well, I'm in antiques. My Dad called me a Junk Dealer, but it's a respected job in this city."
"Yes, my Granddad did it." Melanie smiled to herself, forcing herself to bite her tongue.
"Cool. What did he deal in?"
"All sorts" Melanie sipped her drink. Normally she loved talking about Great Granddad Jack. Today wasn't a normal day. Any slip about who she was could mean a killer after her.
Daniel looked at her for a second "Fair enough. What do you do then?"
"I'm a Nursery teacher."
"I take it you like kids?"
And so the conversation progressed, little titbits exchanged, both careful not to let anything slip that might place them in danger. And further into the bar their two watchers sat, quietly chatting about the first times they had met ŒMr Black¹.
******
Their Mr Black - The Shade - stood on a parapet on Hinz Bridge overlooking Seven Colours River. He felt the air chill about him. He knew what was coming, his shadows had already whispered it to him. Without turning around he said simply "I take it you are Mr Sin?"
The glow of the red eyes answered "Yes. May I ask how you know my name?"
"I know a great many things. I take it you know of me?"
"Yes. My master has told me both your names Shade."
"Has he now. Well he's very generous with his information isn't he? I suppose you are here for my head or some other dramatic appendage?"
"My master wishes you repaid for taking that which was his. The staff. I am to kill you then the Star Children."
"Are you now? And how do you intend to do that?"
"Quickly and without fuss. I have already had one slip by grandstanding." The words seem to sting Mr Sin even as the slipped from his mouth.
The shadows swirled around Mr Sin's legs as they formed into creatures to fight at their master's behest.
"Well, we shall have to fight, as you put it. At least it isn't one of those tiresome mistaken identity brawls."
The Shade turned and watched as the shadows began their assault.
******
Alex looked around from his seat atop the old Chandler building, scanning the sky for the Police. His goggles adjusted themselves as he focused on various points along the skyline. It looked safe, but he'd make certain by heading down. No - they would be looking for Starman up top. Down was good. He hesitated to step off, looked at the staff and let himself fall into its grasp. Down he flew, and along past the neon of the signs. He let the goggles adjust themselves looking left to right. A spark of light caught his eye to the right. Stopping, he hung and observed four men were attempting a break in. Well - actually one was using a reader to crack an alarm, while the other three looked out. ŒGreat¹ he thought to himself Œrobbers¹. He was getting sucked into this life too quickly. He worried he wouldn¹t want to go back to normality. Well, he could ponder that later. He arched up and down firing a blast at the two furthest from the edge. One quickly dropped. The other wavered, but was sent crashing as Alex's foot careered into him.
"Freeze, Punks - you're busted" Alex said, then thought to himself ŒI need professional help.¹ The two remaining looked at each other, one with an ebony mask on, and responded. The Black masked reader operator bolted across the rooftop, the other opening fire. A quick succession of bullets sprayed forth. Alex shot downwards fiddling with the controls of the staff. He'd seen pictures of Marshall generating a shield with the staff. No matter the settings he tried, he didn't seem able to produce what he needed. The gunman looked over the edge and aimed at Alex. Alex fired the staff without hesitation. The man shook and then fell, his footing lost. He raced past Alex, who turned and flew after him, grabbing at the plummeting man's foot. He caught it just and with effort held on till they reached the rooftop.
Alex sat on the rooftop, having used their own stealthlines to bind the ones he'd caught. If he was going to do this he had to learn how to use the staff. If only to stop himself getting shot. He looked over at the bound men. Now, what was he going to do with them?
******
From a couple of rooftops away, the Black Masked host watched. He'd wished to avoid any sort of confrontation. Especially with a superhero of any description. He must find some way to hide its activities. But wasn't the Starman the enemy of its enemy? So many possibilities ...
******
The Shadows and red flashes arched all across the bridge. If it had been a fireworks display it might have attracted onlookers, but in this part of town people knew to keep their heads down. Mr Sin's blasts lacked the potency they once had, while the Shade danced around the bridge quipping about his old adversaries.
"My dear Sin, you certainly are slowing. Not good enough. I duelled with the first two Flashes. I'm used to quick action. Your employer will be displeased. No wonder Alex escaped your clutches."
Sin glared feeling a presence. He stopped for a second as one of the shadows struck him across the face. Its claw ripped along the scar the Starboy had cut. The red flashed again, piercing the shadow. This wound ran deeper than the laser the boy had used. No matter - his master was coming. The Shade had stopped, perhaps reaching the same conclusion.
"I must leave you, dear Sin. Don't worry - you'll get to face one of the Starmen shortly." The Shade tipped his hat and let the shadows envelop him.
Mr Sin was left wounded on the bridge to face his master alone.
******
LATER
A beeper had bleeped at the same time for Alex, Melanie and Daniel. They all knew what it meant. The Shade was summoning them for his scheme. Melanie and Daniel looked at each other in the seconds after their respective beepers had sounded and both smiled. The rendezvous point had been arranged, and they all made their way quickly to it. Alex, skirting patrols and brightly lit areas of the city. Their rendezvous was one of the Shade's front offices in a building off Lennox Avenue. The front door read in Neon script ŒELLIS INVESTIGATIONS¹. Melanie and Daniel arrived first and tried the door, Daniel with rod in hand. The Shade sat inside, his overcoat placed on the back of a chair, brushing himself down.
"Please, come inside. We are waiting on Mr Dare."
The two walked in and sat down. The Shade looked at them "I see you've made each other's acquaintance, Daniel and Miss Kayle."
Melanie nodded.
A light swoosh was heard and Alex opened the door. Daniel looked up at him, a little hurt in his eyes. Shade looked over. "Good. We can start. Alex Dare, meet Melanie Kayle and Daniel Ludlow. You were all described to me as the Starchildren tonight. A curious affectation, but not one of my creation."
He paused "You all have a connection. To the heritage of this city, but that is not for debate now. What you are here for is to save Opal."
Alex made his way to sit down, holding the staff up. "What do you want us to do?" he asked removing his helmet and goggles, shaking his hair. Melanie looked at him and realised who he was. Daniel's gaze was still fixed on the staff.
"You, Alex, have the honour of acting as the bait to draw the delectable Mr Sin to feed. You are to be the beacon as the Starman. His little mind will not comprehend that by making one a hero I was still able to not cast aside the others. Alex, I'm afraid to say you are merely a diversion. Miss Kayle and young Daniel will be dealing with the real job at hand."
Daniel looked up, turning his Cosmic rod over in his hands. "Which is?"
The Shade smiled. "To enter the Star Tower and save the Opal. To be a hero, young Daniel - that is what you hunger for, is it not?"
Daniel looked back down at the rod and closed his eyes, mouthing the word "Yes."
******
Chapter 2
FLASHY HEROES AND LEGERDEMAIN
Alex looked up at the sky. The night was here. He fastened his coat, checking the badge. Pulling down his goggles he started the staff and flew upwards into the clear sky. He was heading for a fight with a maniac who tried to kill him, but this time he was armed. Holding tightly onto the staff he flew down Zulu Boulevard. He was not concerned tonight about attracting attention. That was what the Shade wanted. Their enemy to see the new Starman flying about and send their crazed killer after him. He hovered in front of a 3D billboard advertising Coke and looked around. The Shade had given him two instructions: Stay alive and avoid the Star Tower. He headed into the city away from the Tower to find Sin.
******
Melanie pulled down the mask over her face. She looked at Daniel and pulled a face. He smiled from under his mask and walked forward. The Shade was supposed to have arranged for a way into the building to be open. Daniel tried the door as Melanie covered him. She whispered, "Are we all right?
Daniel pushed the door. "Yes, I think so."
The doorway led into the Star Tower, the symbol of Andrew Marshall¹s rule over the Opal and a visible gesture at Mediate and the other Corps. No one in Opal could understand why there had been no heroes coming to their aid as Marshall sank lower and lower in his actions. Not even Superman had come to help them. Opal City had been an embarrassment. Mediate seemed powerless to stop one man from flaunting their rules and running the city as his own private kingdom. The Star Tower was the castle to that kingdom.
Daniel and Melanie made their way into the dimly lit Tower, both holding their rods out, sweeping in front of them. The steel structure seemed to follow a set pattern radiating from the centre. It was emotionless, dark and dead. They walked towards the centre. No sign of any other creature.
******
Mr Sin sat on the rooftop and fired a blast in front of the Starboy. Alex wheeled back firing at him as the blasts splattered the area where he'd been.
Mr Sin smiled. "So they armed you did they, Starboy. It will not do you any good." His hands glowed as crimson blasts ushered from his hands, forcing Alex to dodge. "I'm going to kill you for this scar. And because my master commands it."
Alex was quiet. He wasn't going to be riled. He had a job to do and he didn't feel like small talk. Especially not after the crap he came out with last time. He dodged the blasts, not returning fire. It was obvious Sin was playing with him.
Sin¹s eyes flashed as the energy shots from his hands stopped. "So Starboy; they taught you to fly. Well - no matter." Without looking back Mr Sin stepped backwards off the building, out of sight as gravity grabbed him . Alex was quick to react circling around searching the ledges. From below screams rang out. 'Shit' he thought flying down, dodging the overhangs. The many personed screams were lessening in number as he got closer, his goggles focusing on the darkness below as a red flash shone. Sin was killing indiscriminately, man, women, beast and child. Alex opened fire around him trying to divert his attention. It just wasn't working.
Increasing his speed he headed in and grabbed a woman out of the path of Sin's blast. He shot up carrying her dazed, leaving her on a low pedway. Circling back down he raced to grab another out of the danger area. As he did he was struck in the back, sending him reeling.
******
Daniel pressed back against the wall, trying to control his breathing. Melanie crouched and looked around the corner. By the stairwell some shadow creature skulked and it was decidedly non human. She looked back at Daniel and pointed. Standing up, she moved to the side allowing him to crouch and look. It was different to one of Shade's creatures, much more grotesque, though Daniel well knew he had never truly seen Shade using his darkness. They had to get past it. Shade said their goal was in the basement. The creature whirled and Daniel ducked back. It was nearly seven feet tall, broad, with gangly long arms tipped with razor-sharp claws.
Looking back at Melanie he shrugged as her eyes looked at him questioningly. He checked his rod and stood up quickly. Melanie looked at him even more questioningly. He smiled and ran out, blasting at the creature. Melanie followed, incredulous. The creature lashed out sweeping its great arm towards Daniel. He ducked under and kept firing. The creature was ignoring Melanie as she aimed a careful shot at its head. The blast struck it above its eyes, or where its eyes would have been. It kept going.
Daniel continued to duck and weave, firing when he could. His heart was racing, sweat pouring off him and in the back of his head a voice saying softly, "Be a hero." He glanced back at Melanie. At least he got to spend time with her while being a hero.
"Dodge and shoot. It's not slowing down. We need another tack...."
******
The shot burned in his shoulder. The staff was held low, his free hand clasped to his shoulder in support. Alex stood in front of Mr Sin¹s intended victim, who looked at him terrified. He smiled nervously at her, while inside he swore like a bastard at the pain. Sin chuckled as his hands glowed preparing another shot. Alex realised he couldn't move or the woman would be hit. He mouthed to her "Run", but she sat there dumbstruck.
Sin gloated. "Hurt Starboy? It's only beginning."
Alex stood there weighing up his options: he could stay here and get shot at, get the woman out of the way and be an easier target, leave her here or stop Sin from shooting. He whirled focusing his shot at Sin's scar. The force of the blast made Sin back-pedal as Alex leaned down and pulled the woman to safety. With her out the way Alex pressed the Staff¹s controls and began to hover again, continuing to fire concentrated blasts at Sin's face. He might not win but he was going to mess the smug git's face up.
******
Melanie ran under the creature's swinging arm as Daniel signalled to her. He covered her, shooting at the creature. "What are we going to do?" she shouted to him.
Daniel shouted back, "Follow me, I've got an idea." He ran around the corner, came back taking Melanie's hand and started running.
"We've got to hurry this up. Alex is facing Sin on his own."
"I know. I know. I'm trying. I don't see you suggesting anything." They ran along the steel corridors, all the time the creature following. When they were sufficiently far enough ahead, Daniel stopped.
"Right here. We try and stop it here," he said breathlessly. Melanie nodded, readying her rod.
******
The Shade sat on his balcony watching the flashes of light in the sky. A part of him hoped he had not sent innocents to their doom. He could not risk becoming involved, in case Sin's Master paid too close attention to what happened this night in Opal. There was uncertainty in his mind over who exactly Sin¹s Master was, but he had felt the taint of power drawing closer just before he had bid adieu to Sin on the bridge. It was up to the three to do that which Opal had thrust upon them. Still it did not sit well with him - this inaction. He read of previous nights in his life and waited.
******
Sin lashed out with his blasts as Alex dodged trying to lure the villain to a less populated area of the city. In his actions and callousness Sin had found a weakness Alex never knew existed. While he was playing hero he couldn't afford to be cavalier, because other people's lives were involved. Damn. This hero lark was a lot harder than simply putting on the goggles.
Mr Sin had lost his calm composure - he so wanted to kill this insect, but to use his full abilities was to draw attention from higher powers. That was why the Master had used agents such as Marshall for many years. He lashed out with his fury, but he could not use all his anger to quash this boy. As another red streak hurtled through the air, he realised something was wrong. He pressed for the source of uneasiness. It was not here. Someone was in the Tower.
****** The Shadow Creature stumbled forward in its haphazard form of walking, stepping right into a livewire and two concentrated Cosmic Rod blasts. The energy ripped through it as sparks of light pierced the shadow like fire crackers. If it had had lungs it would have screamed.
Daniel looked to Melanie, "See - I said it would work." Inside he sighed with relief as he thought 'Thank God.'
Melanie shrugged behind her mask. The two turned away from the creature which oozed into the floor and worked their way back to the stairwell. They reached it and Melanie gingerly tried the door. It opened easily, a little too easily into blackness. Neither wanted to take the first step so on a count of three they stepped in, making their way down slowly adjusting their eyes to the faint light the rods produced. The rest of the Tower had seemed to them cold, unchanging and repetitive. This was altogether darker. This was the foundations of the Tower. No more the steel of the interior, instead it was stone etched with something which Melanie had no desire to touch. Daniel stopped suddenly, putting his hand out to stop Melanie and stood and listened.
******
Mr Sin stopped his blasting and ran back towards the Star Tower. The boy was a diversion. The others were inside and close to the Opal. With her freed the Master would lose power and he, Mr Sin, would be forced to flee. Following Alex shot at his back, his blasts going unnoticed. Mr Sin kept running, paying no heed to the shots raining down on his back and hoped he would not be too late. If he'd had a heart, then he would have known in it that he was already too late.
******
Daniel whispered to Melanie, "Do you hear that?"
"What?" Melanie replied.
"I don't know. A sort of humming. No, not quite a humming, more like something touching my... nevermind. It's coming from the right." He edged forwards down the stairs and around the corner.
A woman hung there, clasped in manacles, her head down. She had long brown hair, her eyes hidden by it, but tears ran down her face. Her face suggested she had once been beautiful, but time had diminished her. Her classic dress was cut, but not frayed and the manacles cut deep into her wrists. Looking at her dishevelled form Daniel felt immense sorrow, stopping to pause as he fought to hold back his tears.
Melanie moved forward to check the chains. "I think we should be able to blast through them to free her," she said, and then looked back at Daniel. In his eyes she caught the glimmer of tears. It would be a sight she long remembered and one she would one day remind Daniel of. "You OK?"
"Yeah fine. I think just.... it doesn't matter. Let¹s get her free." He shot at one of the chains. Melanie paused, then shot the other as the woman slumped forward. Daniel ran forward and caught her, cradling her in his arms. "Mel. I'll carry her, you cover. OK?"
Melanie nodded and they made their way up. The darkness seemed a little less fierce.
******
Mr Sin's knees buckled as he slumped to the ground, screaming in rage.
"NNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Alex stopped firing. "What's the matter Sin? Losing?" Sin whirled and shot him a glare straight from Hell. Alex shivered, shaken by the look as his adversary began to glow with a dark light and vanished in front of him. A wisp of smoke marked his passing as Alex watched shocked. Flying to the point of departure he searched around for some kind of trick, but nothing was there. He was alone in the street, his adversary gone. As the realisation hit him Alex's knees began to buckle. He'd won. He was alive. The quiet was broken by the sounds of cheering as Alex whooped into the air, tears streaming down his face.
******
Shade looked out at the city and smiled. Even the bloody Star Tower had a nice look to it. The three had done well. His Opal was free and Sin's Master raged ineffectually for now. He allowed himself a certain amount of smugness, but he'd simply been the herald for the city, looking for a new Knight. But even he was unsure who would now be the Starman the city so desperately needed.
NEXT ISSUE: Choices are made. Finally we will know who the Starman is. Reflections are cast on past choices of both our heroes and their predecessors. New villains surface. And of course the Black Mask is back. Join me for CHOICES AND INTERLUDES
Following an idea from Ed Burke's Doom Patrol DCF this issue was written to James: Whiplash The Verve: Northern Soul and Radiohead: The Bends
OPAL HEIGHTS
Before I go onto to the letters I have a question for the readers new and old. As many of you might know this title was once part of DC Futures and the issues coming out here are currently redone versions of those issues. Well I got a reasonable amount of mail for the last series and I want to know people¹s thoughts on whether I should publish those letters alongside whatever new ones come in? For now I will do, but it¹s not definite I will keep doing it. So the letters refer to the old issues, which aren¹t all that dissimilar to the current version. I¹ll probably edit out any really specific DCF references and hopefully I¹ll have some brand new letters to take their places.
CONGRATS!
Why? Because "Starman: DCF" has already become one of the title on my "must read" list! I am a huge fan of DC's Starman title and this book thus far is just as good. I'm really glad you decided to have the Shade pop up, as well as a Ludlow, and an O'Dare! And I feel you've done a great job capturing the character's feelings, especially the Shade. And you write Opal City well too. I always felt Opal was an "unofficial" supporting cast member in the DC Book. Robinson does such a great job making you feel like your actually there, and so far you do too! Keep up the great work man! … Joey G.
Thanks Joey. Opal will continue to have a cast role in the book and especially come issue 12. Shade will be around for a while but will fade into the background to become involved in a little organisation that will rear its head very shortly.
That was probably a lot of fuss about not much, but I¹m being cautious. Thanks go this time to Paul McNally and Alex Cook, who is my first Starman DCFS convert. More next week.
Any email or comments to me at Starman26@hotmail.com.
Also mail there if you want to join my mailing list.
