Chapter Thirteen:
Remembrance and Regret
(The Grand Summit of the Impergium)
In New Argo base…
Thunder takes a deep breath and smiles as he walks out of the shower area with new clothes on and drying his head off with a towel. He sees that Bruce Banner was waiting for him inside the locker room, watching over his Nega Bands. He looked at him, "Anything going on yet?"
"Just a fucking card game among convicts and war criminals, nothing major yet. I'd figure I would wait in here and watch over your Bands while you showered," Bruce said he stood up and handed them to Thunder as he put them on. They both began to walk out of the locker area towards the war room.
Thunder walked past the portal bay and looked at Bruce, "Did Bridget make it back? Wouldn't want her to miss the festivities."
"Yeah…she and Carlos came through while you were in the shower."
"What about the woman we rescued from Venom's clutches?"
Bruce closes his eyes and sighs, "She is in the sickbay, she hasn't been the same since we separated the symbiote…she fell asleep as soon as they hooked her up to the IVs and wrapped up her wounds. Some of the medics say she hasn't probably slept in a year or so."
"Well…that's what happens when you are the puppet of an alien symbiote for the past 10 years…it eventually ends up with them taking control. Did she ever give us her name?"
"None yet…I am beginning to think that it's been so long since she thought for herself that even she doesn't remember…How about Hannah?"
Banner stops, "What about her?"
As if summoned on command, Doctor Fate shows up. She removed her helmet and looked at the two men, "Hey guys."
"You are late…" Thunder quipped in sarcasm.
Sensing his sarcasm she goes along with it, "A wizard is never late, Justin Blanks. She arrives precisely in the time and manner she means to. Besides I could see everything through the astral plane. I would miss nothing. Though, something new has come to pass. I am here because the Helmet has given me a new mission."
Bruce lifts an eyebrow, "Shouldn't your orders be given by Bridget? Like the rest of us?"
Thunder pulls both aside, "Look at me. I don't want this newfound group we have to be totally under the command of HLM. Look what happened to the Avengers when Fury took over their operations…not good. So you guys just keep in mind that our goal is not governmental, but philosophical. We do what we think is right…"
"Oh you mean like killing a bunch of people that would turn us in to the Brainchild?" Said Doctor Fate in an accusing tone.
"What the fuck; why the vitriol towards me all of a sudden?" Thunder asked confused.
"No vitriol…just…As far as I am concerned, we are a loosely associated group of superheroes with the same goals. That is it."
Thunder was getting agitated, "In order for us to succeed in our goals we need to be a TEAM…"
Bruce who now feels more like a Green Lantern than he had before feels the need to interject, "Thunder…Justin…I think I get what both of you is saying…We need to help the HLM, but not actually join the HLM. Some of us, by the condition of our powers, have other things that we must accomplish or other duties that need to be taken care of."
"Humanity will totally rely on us. They need to believe in themselves, not totally in us. That is what failed them before…failed us before." Doctor Fate said.
Thunder looks at both of them and nods his head, "You might be right. But you need to remember something…whether we are superhuman, mutant, or not…we are still fighting for humans. Their needs are put first."
And with that last sentence, Thunder walked alone to the war room, leaving the others by themselves. Doctor Fate puts her helmet back on and walks toward the war room followed shortly after by Bruce who activates his ring and gives him his unique uniform.
Bridget sat at her chair looking around at the motley crew of people in front of her as well as around her. She started to think about how similar this situation looked like compared to what happened when her uncle met with the council about her fate…
27 years ago…
Michael Luthor is uncharacteristically nervous because this meeting is going to decide the FATE of his niece, and he isn't sure if his decision that he is prepared to present to the council is the correct one. This is after all a twelve year old girl they are talking about. Michael enters the war room where the meeting will be held. There is a large table in the room with several monitors positioned around it instead of actual people. Representatives of all the remaining continents are here to give their collective decision on the way to handle Bridget Luthor. They could only attend through holographic display, as their respective territories were indeed very busy due to the Brainchild's increased efforts after Baltimore.
Michael takes his seat and looks around at the holographic images of the remaining members and speaks, "First I'd like to thank you all for responding to my request so quickly, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do…"
The Asian Representative interrupts Michael mid sentence, "General…Michael…we all know Bridget is like your daughter, and we all know how important this is so we're ready to hear you plead your case."
Michael smiles and sighs, "Thanks, I don't know why I'm so nervous."
"You do not want to make the wrong decision with someone else's life. We can all relate. So please…" Said the African Representative.
"Thanks…alright. Look, Bridget is ready for training for both combat and officership."
At the exact moment that Michael finished that last sentence, young Bridget Luthor quietly reentered the room where she played with her uncle looking for a book that she may have left there. In actuality she knew exactly where the book was, she just was looking for a reason to listen in on the council meeting. She felt guilty for even attempting to eavesdrop when she heard her uncle mention her name. All of a sudden her interests were peaked, and the guilt seemed to disappear. Bridget crept towards the meeting room door as quietly as she could, listening or hanging on every word.
The Asian representative responds, "So that is your decision, Michael?"
Michael backpedals slightly not wanting to step on anyone's proverbial toes, "Look, I understand all natural reservations but I…"
Michael is interrupted by a younger Brenda MacLeod, still the representative of Europe, "Michael…listen we all know how potentially important Bridget can be and how important the Luthor name is to the HLM so you must understand that the council feels that Ms. Luthor is still a little too…."
"Speak for yourself, MacLeod, the council hasn't agreed on anything yet, which correct me if I'm wrong is the whole reason for us being here." The New Argo representative retorted.
Brenda easily agitated by the New Argo representative now responds with kid gloves off, "Fuck off, man…This is a twelve year old girl, normal female training doesn't usually begin until the age of fifteen."
"Not in Asia. Here we find the young females become quite responsive to training at an earlier age," said the Asian Representative.
The Jewish Representative of Eve's Twat finally chimes in, "Not to mention the fact that the "Blackbirds" who suffered the same fate as Bridget in Baltimore started their training at age five."
A young Black Kryptonite, who still was the Atlantean Representative, finally speaks, "This young lady is not a Blackbird."
Michael Luthor had enough, "NO! She's the future of the entire movement."
Bridget, who has been eavesdropping the whole time in a squatting position, gasps at the boldness of her uncle and puts her hand to her mouth and temporarily loses balance having to readjust the positioning of her hands and feet, which makes a slight scraping sound.
No one heard her though, no one except her uncle who was highly trained and already aware of young Miss Luthor's presence. He made no indication of her presence to the other members of the council.
Black Kryptonite spoke once more, "That may very well be the case, Michael. But do you truly believe this girl is ready, especially considering all the things that could happen to her. To become an officer of the HLM takes extreme guidance and maturity that mere combat training doesn't have."
Michael stands, "If I didn't I would not be wasting everyone's time, so please the time is now, I feel it in my bones. There is just something telling me, kind of divine intervention if you will that the time is now. I want to make sure I'm around to…I want to make sure I see her…grow to her full potential, unless I am unable to."
The Council stays silent for a little bit, confusing Bridget from hearing what was going on.
Brenda finally speaks, "Ok Michael, let's vote. Need I remind you that the chairman's vote doesn't count in this instance seeing how there is only 5 members of the Council until we can add New Kandor and Antarctica to the council."
"New Kandor is a work in progress, as for Antarctica…is you really sure you could trust Vandal Savage?" said the New Argo Representative.
Brenda MacLeod interjects once more, "… So a majority decision is acceptable? I vote NO!"
"I vote yes!" says the Asian Representative.
"I vote yes!" says the Jewish Representative.
"I join, Brenda and voice my concerns. I vote NO!" said Black Kryptonite.
The last Representative was the second in command to Michael and a loyal confidant, his vote was obvious. "…YES!"
Michael smiles, "There we have it the YES' are in the majority. She will be trained, I will handle the majority of the training…and Brenda can take care of the things that I can't."
Brenda speaks quietly and sternly toward Michael, "She is a sweet little girl, I hope you're right about this. On your brother's honor you swear to me that you will do all you can to prepare her."
"Brenda I have never in my life been surer of anything, as I am about this. Trust me; this girl is our future, all of our futures. She may be the one to figure out a way to just stop holding on and fighting these meaningless never-ending battles. She may be the one to restore the world to the way it was in the stories we have been told, she…"
Brenda interrupts again, "When did you become the devoted optimist? This is not a side of you I have seen. You will be placing an unbelievable amount of pressure on this little girl, and she may not respond well. Hell, Mike, it just might break her. Not everybody is like me."
"Not everybody is a Luthor."
These words ring in Bridget's ears as the council meeting is adjourned and the holographic monitors are turned off, leaving the chairman Michael Luthor and the Council Member of New Argo at the newly established New Argo base.
"Congratulations General…"
Michael holds up his hands and motions toward the other end of the room. Michael quietly walks over to the door and opens it with force and the sudden opening of the door knocks Bridget off balance and she falls on her butt.
The surprised look makes her worried, and her uncle grinning, "Uncle Mike I…"
"I thought I told you I needed privacy for my meeting with the council."
"I…Uncle Mike I came back in here looking for my book and I didn't want to bother you guys while the big meeting was going on and I was going to leave but then I heard you say something about me." Bridget tried to explain at a million miles an hour.
Michael kneeled down to look at Bridget eye to eye, "Whoa slow down, honey, slow down. It's ok. You know how I told you that you, I and your daddy are part of a special family?"
Apprehensive she puts on a meek face, "Yes."
Michael Luthor continues, "There has been a Luthor with the HLM since its creation…and I see in you, the culmination of all our hard work, blood, tears, and dedication. But now it's my duty to see this through and train you, both in the arts of war and of leadership. Do you understand?"
Bridget nods in silence.
"This will almost be like hell, but you must endure, not only for the sake of humanity, but for the honor of the House of Luthor."
Now…
Bridget closes her eyes in remembrance and smiles as Thunder walked into the room he saw everyone there watching the feed provided by the Blackbirds. Carlos looked out of the corner of his eye to see the Defender of the Galaxy and stood up. Everyone else upon seeing this man did the same thing, save for Brenda MacLeod who stayed seated for obvious reasons. Then Doctor Fate and the Green Lantern entered behind him as the members of the brass stared in silence.
Black Kryptonite walked over to Thunder and placed a hand out to shake, and looked at everyone else. "My comrades in arms, may I have the privilege to introduce to you, Justin Blanks, the Defender of the Galaxy also called Thunder." The people began to finally applaud. Thunder remains speechless as he just raises his hand in acknowledgement. Thunder could smell the small but a diverse assortment of food permeating through the room and it made him hungry.
He then walked to Doctor Fate as she took off her helmet, "This lovely young lady is Hannah Haiduk and she is the new Doctor Fate. She is the native of Atlantis that took Mordred's helmet." She took a bow as her eyes immediately singled out the Councilman Samuel Chen who was standing in the corner area, and then back to the others.
"I found out recently that I was the blood relative of Mordred kept secret…" Doctor Fate said as a few eyes opened wider. Seeing their reaction she tried to back pedal her comment, "But that's ok…I am not evil or anything like him…so…we are good."
The others just remained silent until Brenda spoke up, "You have done nothing bad yet, lassie…you are on good terms with me!"
The room chuckled slightly at the elder Scotswoman. They then looked at the new Green Lantern who finally removed his hood. Black Kryptonite stood next to him, "This is Bruce Banner…the man who once was the Hulk, but now given a new purpose as the man that was worthy to carry the ring of the Green Lantern."
Green Lantern made it a point to shake everyone's hand in the room, "Meeting you all today is an honor and a privilege. I will do my best to aid you in any possible way I can against the Brainchild."
Bridget Luthor asked the three to finally take a seat as things started to get out of hand on the screen with Rasputin and Apocalypse. Thunder's eyes widened as he gazed at the screen, "Colossus?"
Bruce looked curious as well, "Why is he at the Summit?"
Bridget sat down and leaned forward as Black Kryptonite finally took his seat, "Whoever that man was in your era, Justin. He is definitely not that anymore. Piotr Rasputin has a name among the people of the HLM and that is The Great Traitor."
"What did he do? He was always a gentle kind of guy…strong and jovial, what turned him into such a savage?" Thunder asked looking toward Bruce Banner.
"If there is one thing I know, it's how a gentle and jovial man can become a strong savage. There was obviously a catalyst to make him change his mind." Bruce responded.
Bridget stopped the men as she saw the Brainchild finally walk out onto the conference room. She looked at Carlos and whispered silently in his ear, "You and Daytona did a fantastic job with this."
Carlos smiled and muttered under his breath as he caressed her leg from under the table, "Why thank you, my sweet…" She grinned momentarily as she turned back toward the hologram screen.
"Took the robotic asshole long enough…" Moishe Gibson muttered under his breath staring at the man who represented everything he hated about this world. While listening to the events, everyone grabbed food from the buffet and sat back at the table not wanting to miss a thing…
Las Vegas, in New Argo…The Summit
The Brainchild walked in and sat at a throne gazing at his magistrates. "Thank you all for coming…not like you actually had a choice in the matter, but I thank you anyway. The court recognizes the Magistrate of Africa and his second…"
Apocalypse and Mr. Sinister stand up. "Yes, your Eminence?"
"Status report…"
"Well, sire…The four Horsemen and the raiders you have bestowed upon my fair jurisdiction have made sure that all dissident activity have been clotted and removed. All that remains are your loyal servants." Apocalypse said in great confidence.
"What of the human population and economy?"
Sinister speaks up, "The humans worship you. HLM activity is at a bare minimum with about 1000 of our residents now incarcerated by the Holy Warden. Mining for gold and diamonds are still being carried out as slaves from the old tribes are used for the tasks. Food is plentiful for those who cooperate, for those who do not; my Horseman of Famine Blackwolf has taken care of."
"Any dissident religions found?"
Apocalypse looks at Sinister and back, "None that we know of other than some remnant Coptic Christians in Ethiopia, as well as a couple of factions of Islam to the north and east of the continent."
"Christians and Muslims…their god has failed them. I will let them live because I truly find them amusing, much like the Jews. Thank you, you may be seated."
The others look at each other and back toward the Brainchild as he looked at the Holy Warden, "The court recognizes the Magistrate from the prison Continent of New Kandor and his second."
The Holy Warden stands and bows before the Brainchild, "My lord, New Krypton sings of the wonder of your power and glory…"
"Quit the platitudes, Warden…I would like statistics…not adulation for the moment." Brainchild interrupts promptly as the Warden seems disturbed.
"Uh…The prison is secure. There has been no contact of convicts with the outside world or the free zone in the southern part of the continent. Rehabilitation into New Kryptonian society is at a slow pace. Most inmates are choosing to commit suicide than talk or cooperate with investigations abroad."
"Any presence of HLM activity in your jurisdiction?"
"There have been no contacts for them to make. There are however several gangs that operate within the halls of the Gulag. They don't have access to anything else by the way. We still haven't found the operatives called the Jaguar and Deadpool."
New Argo Base…
With the mention of the Jaguar, Carlos smiled in hopes that his brother, who revered that nickname, was still alive.
Thunder looked at Bridget, "Deadpool is still alive?"
"Of course he is...he made a pact with Death herself apparently as how the story goes, and now he's regretted that decision ever since."
Green Lantern asked curiously, "I remember Wade...How come he didn't join the Impergium? I thought that he would have loved killing all those people…"
Bridget shrugged her shoulders, "No idea...maybe one day we can ask him."
Las Vegas…
"In regards to the activity of the factions within, Your Eminence, I can assure you that Impergium guards keep things under wraps as well as the Warden and I. Any major or minor activity is taken care of with the strictest efficiency, my lord." The Deacon Jailer added to the Warden's assessment.
The Brainchild seemed to make a mental note of that before speaking once more, "Economy?"
"Sire…the inmates work only for them. Unless they follow your rules and gain tenets to begin the rehabilitation process, they don't work."
"Any dissident religions found?"
"If it was your will to annihilate all those who didn't believe in you as a god, I would do so with the swiftest of vengeance, my lord."
"That is not what I asked, Warden."
The Holy Warden is silent as he looks at the Deacon Jailer. The Jailer looks back at the Brainchild, "There are three that are certain. One is old world Catholicism. The other is almost animistic where the spirits of things are worshipped as a whole; a neo-Wiccan religion, so to speak. The last one is called plainly the Church of Plastic."
The Brainchild asks curiously, "What is this Church of Plastic? Do they worship polycarbonates and water bottles?"
Rictus and Rasputin laugh slightly, but realize that the Brainchild was serious in his inquiry not sarcastic.
The Jailer, who also wanted to laugh, just swallowed loudly and looked at the Warden frightened. The Warden just nodded in assurance as he tried to speak once more, "No master…they seem to smoke a lot of what the humans call cannabis and worship at the altar of a 20th Century hero called Plastic Man."
The Brainchild looks at the Deacon and begins to laugh…and laugh…and continue on a hysterical fit. The others afraid of not laughing start to laugh with him.
The Brainchild under his helmet shows slight emotion as he finishes his laughing fit. "What else can you tell me about this…this church of Plastic Man…?"
The Deacon stops laughing and continues, "Well…their slogan is that 'Wherever you are in your world, he'll stretch to meet you!"
The Brainchild asks, "So these idiots are sort of like stoners who worship a false god?"
The Holy Warden agrees without question, "Yes, my lord."
Deacon Jailer continued, "They are mostly pacifists, but there have been circumstances where they have gotten violent. These idiots might one day prove to be a problem, but for now we still make sure that their activities are monitored."
"You two may be seated." The Brainchild commanded.
New Argo Base…
Bridget Luthor holds up a tablet and grins. "My Colonel, Carlos Ramirez, has a brother in New Kandor. There are measures coming to retrofit tesseract portals within secret parts of the continent. Once that happens we can recruit and even take back our troops that have been sent there."
"What about what Apocalypse said?" Justin Blanks asked.
"I can answer that," said Eusi Simba, who leaned forward, "Our forces are small but that's only because the Horsemen have just been that effective."
"Unfortunately, I can second that…" Brenda MacLeod says.
"What about their talk of dissident religions? Do you think that they would be envious of our cause and might join us?" asked Samuel Chen.
"In the case of the Church of Plastic, I am wondering if they were to duplicate the methods that created the original Plastic Man that they might be harder to deal with, even if they are pacifists. They are still hardcore activists. Maybe we should look into these new churches they have been talking about. Maybe I can get representatives to meet with me and we can discuss things." Bridget said.
Las Vegas…
"The court would like to recognize the Magistrate and his second from the Continent of Europe."
Ra's Al Ghul and his beloved daughter stand from their seats and bow before the Brainchild, "We bring you tidings from the shell of Vatican City, now your Palisade, which has been made into the glory of your empire here on New Krypton."
Brainchild tired of the opulence but allowed it, "Get to the point, I want a status report…"
Ra's Al Ghul hesitated slightly, "Our continent still struggles with the forces of the HLM. The extra troops you have sent us however have done the trick in keeping the Highlander's soldiers quiet."
Apocalypse asked curiously, "The Highlander still holds a problem for you? I thought that Scourge had taken care of her and her contingent of soldiers on Britannia?"
Talia Al Ghul responds, "The talks of her demise have been rumors only. Her legend grows more each day, much like that of the HLM General Bridget Luthor. The captives we take all claims this woman to be as immortal as we are. That her terrible swift sword will liberate her people in due time."
"A bitch has an adamantium broadsword and people think she is invincible. This woman will do nothing of the sort. This Highlander woman shall not be allowed to live. When the summit is over, I will dispatch all of the Horsemen to take care of this Scottish tramp." Apocalypse suggests to his master.
"No master, please give us more time and we will make sure that the Highlander is crushed. I haven't had an insurrection in my territory in over 40 years, unlike in Africa, Lord Apocalypse. But Your Eminence, we can maintain this I swear!"
"I think that you have done all you can do," as the Brainchild nods in agreement with Apocalypse, "I think that will suffice. What of your economy?"
"The continent's riches are yours for the taking. We are still supplying the most abundant of food types as well as oils and liquors of all sorts. Revenue soars with the taxes in place, and the people who haven't taken an oath of allegiance to the Highlander are quite content with their lives."
"And those who have taken an oath to the Highlander?"
Ra's Al Ghul looks to find the words to comfort his master, but has none to give. Talia steps up to speak, "We will find them and either kill them or rehabilitate them in New Kandor."
"That's what I am here for." The Holy Warden says joyfully.
"Any dissident religions found?" asked the Brainchild.
"There is a small movement of people who call themselves the Order of St. Logan. It's a church based on the mighty hero of old called Wolverine."
Rasputin groans, "That piece of shit has given me nothing but headaches. I used to throw his ass on a regular basis…and now in death that moron…he is a fucking god…"
"No, Lord Rasputin…not a god, but an instrument of God's holy wrath and rage unleashed onto the world." Talia responded.
"Did this religion ever branch elsewhere?" Rictus asked curiously.
Talia answers Rictus, "People say there are hidden churches in Atlantis."
"Now it makes sense…" Brainchild says suddenly.
"What makes sense, my lord?" Ra's Al Ghul asked worried for his outcome.
"It makes sense that someone from Atlantis was a part of this religion seeing as how this…Wolverine's skeleton has somehow disappeared from Mordred's palace in Atlantis."
They all wanted to bring up Atlantis as well as Mordred to their master, but wait for the proper time.
New Argo Base…
"I am glad to see that I am giving Ra's Al Ghul and his whore so much damn trouble! It makes me feel good despite the suffering I have at the moment. But as you can tell for my appearance, there has now risen a new problem." Brenda MacLeod said leaning back into her chair.
"What is going on, my dear?" asked Samuel Chen.
"I was going to save this speech until after their blasted Summit but something needs to be said. Scourge succeeded in killing me…I am just dying slowly. And my troops will be leaderless and vulnerable without me there."
The other members of the Council stare at her in disbelief, the only one however looks at her in curiosity, and it's Green Lantern.
"I was a medical doctor as well as a nuclear physicist back in my time. I want to see if with this ring I may be able to help you. You and I will talk afterwards." Bruce says to Brenda as she closes her eyes.
"Yes…I guess we will."
"But it looks like the Al Ghuls are in disarray. You have done your job becoming their boogeyman quite well. I think we can use that to our advantage." Thunder said with great confidence.
"Even after all the Four Horsemen show up?" Bridget asked.
"Leave those assholes to us; a much bigger plan is forming." Doctor Fate said.
Thunder just shakes his head as they look at him.
"What's the matter, Justin?" asked Black Kryptonite as he bit into a sausage from his plate.
"I knew Wolverine…or as they call him 'St. Logan'…how the fuck did a guy like him get a fucking religion based off of him. I wasn't the best of friends with him…ok maybe I wasn't even friends with him and that asshole and I clashed whenever we got together, but my point is…even HE would tell these people that he wasn't worthy of this admiration."
"This is not your world, Thunder. Lots of things have changed, some for the better, but most for the worst." Moishe Gibson interjected.
Las Vegas…
"The court would like to recognize the Magistrates from the Continent of Asia. Status report." Brainchild cleverly said making sure that there was no quarrel as to who was the head of the command of Asia proper. This was something that Rasputin and Mandarin have butted heads over in the past.
Both Rasputin and Mandarin sensed the agitation of their lord and just decided to stand and bow before the Brainchild.
"Northern Asia and Russia bring you tidings of great joy. The frozen tundra serves to weed out the weak from the hearty in our clone creating facilities that we possess in Siberia. Our people are no longer starving as some of the plains we have facilitated have made abundant steps in food growth. Our economy has thrived with our exportation of coal, oil and wood from our trees. Not since the beginning of the Soviet Era did everything start going well for our people. Hail to you, Lord Brainchild for your power, vision and guidance." Rasputin boasted and commended as Mandarin looked onward to him.
The Brainchild was pleased with Rasputin's work with the clones and he had new work that was going to come to him momentarily but didn't want to distract him from the tasks at hand, "Any problems with the HLM?"
"I have little skirmishes that our soldiers have had to put down, but with cold efficiency I have made sure that my jurisdiction has been run with a steel unforgiving fist."
"Any dissident religions found?"
"None…mostly don't believe there is a god at all unless it's you."
Mandarin steps forth, "My territory stretches from the far end of the Middle East to as far west as Japan and as far south as Polynesia. Many wonders come from Hong Kong for you."
"Status report."
The master of the ten rings looks at his North Asian counterpart and swallowed hard. "Southern Asia has an abundance not seen in many millennia. Food is plentiful even with increased population being culled for impurities. It seems that there is something out there making our people grows increasingly deformed or just wrong."
"Nuclear war does that…the radiation is no longer a problem, but some people just are more sensitive than others." The Brainchild responded.
"Our economy is good, but the markets have fluctuated for the past several months making finances a little difficult to manage."
"I am the money system on this planet…why is this an issue?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, master."
"Have the HLM been giving you any concerns?"
"I have been rooting around for them any chance I can find…"
"And from what I have been hearing wasting precious resources that could be used on other things to boot. From this moment forth, you will not receive any more aid from Impergium supplies unless you have valid sources of information to back up your treks."
The Mandarin was angry, but made sure not to show it too much as he bowed to his pressure, "Agreed, your Eminence."
"Any dissident religions found in your territory?"
"The ancient mystical arts are still practiced in my territory, although in secret. People are still crying out for the Iron Fist…"
The Brainchild retorted in anger, "They need to be careful of what they wish for…I AM THAT IRON FIST if they wish it for me to be."
"Master…they are just stories…there is nothing that gives me any idea that an Iron Fist will show up once more. Although I do...or should say did...possess an ancient relic that has disappeared from my caretaking."
The Brainchild pried further, "What relic?"
Mandarin cleared his throat and continued as he started walking around to visualize what he was talking about, "My lord, I was visited ages ago by a man who gave to me a wooden box with a lock upon it and said to me that I was the caretaker of this relic from the mystical land of K'un L'un. I since with all my power and even brute force have been unable to open this box or destroy the hinges or lock keeping it closed."
"Who do you think took the relic?" The Brainchild asked.
"I have no idea sir, but we have been on the lookout for clues and the sort, ever since."
The Brainchild was tired of talking to Mandarin, "You two may be seated…The court recognizes the Magistrate of…Eve's Twat and his second. Status report."
"No…" Rictus says defiantly as he continued to stay in his seat.
"No? No to what?" The Brainchild asks as the other magistrates look at Rictus with glaring eyes.
Rictus leaned in his chair forward and put his arms and hands on the marble table, "Pardon my French so to speak, but you are the most powerful being and the most tapped in entity on New Krypton. You know what is going on in my territory without even me telling you. You know the Jews are causing me metric tons of trouble in Eve's Twat. You know that we have no economy, and the only other dissident religion in our territory is Judaism…so what the FUCK is this about?"
"Such insolence and rebellion, you spew forth...Why do you say this to me? When you know that I could rend you limb from limb for it?" The Brainchild says as he stands from his throne. The rest of the magistrates stand as well, not in support, but in outright fear.
Rictus finally stands up in an accusatory stance, "What is all this about? I think the rest of us would like to know. We have been such a force in this universe for 400 years because we didn't hide anything from each other, no matter how much we hated or distrusted each other. If there is danger to your grand Impergium, please tell us."
"My lord, Rictus might be imprudent and sometimes impatient, but I think he is right in this manner." The Holy Warden responded.
"I agree as well…" Apocalypse said sternly, "What is going on?"
The Brainchild sits back down in his throne as though he was staring daggers into Rictus, "Very well, then…"