Strength of the Mind
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to DC or Marvel. I own Farrah/Persiana and Lance/Diablos.
Chapter 14: Rebuilding the Past
Cyborg Superman floated through space as a mass of energy. Despite the body that he had managed to create for himself using the rocket he was in, the body was not durable enough to fight the Man of Steel. Henshaw needed something stronger; something that would make Superman cringe in terror and fear him.
As he continued to float through space, he eventually came across a heavenly body. Closer inspection of the body was revealed to be a planet, but this was no ordinary planet. This was a planet filled with trash. Cyborg Superman thought to himself,
Interesting, a planet full of trash and scrap metal. I might be able to construct a new body for myself, or enhance this old one.
He allowed the natural gravity of the planet to overtake his frail form and entered the atmosphere. Although the heat was intense, it was nothing compared to the burning desire for revenge Henshaw had for Superman. It was consuming the former scientist, the ways he would torture Superman and his family, if he had any.
Henshaw crashed onto the planet's surface, creating a crater and junk flying all around him. Using his numerous tendrils, he began grabbing every piece of scrap metal around him, attempting to fortify his body again for space travel and his eventual encounter with Superman.
As he began rebuilding a new body, Henshaw noticed something in the debris. It was an odd thing, but one he could not ignore.
He approached closer, allowing a tendril to coil around the object. Bringing it closer to him, Henshaw studied the object. It was a robotic head, with a gray face and orange skull. Henshaw turned the head upside down and over and saw some circuitry in the lining. He thought to himself,
An android, here? Might be a servant android or something. I wonder…
He absorbed the android head into him, allowing it as part of his new body.
Suddenly, he could feel and hear thousands of thoughts coming in at once. His human mind was, at first, unable to grasp such an enormity of thoughts, but, Henshaw slowed them down, until he was able to discern them. The robotic head Cyborg Superman had found was that of a robot called Manhunter. There were thousands of these robots, that would patrol the cosmos at the will of the Guardians, before the Green Lantern Corps was established. However, the robots rebelled against the Guardians and nearly destroyed Oa, had it not been for the Justice League. Many of the other Manhunter robots had scattered themselves across the cosmos, wandering aimlessly with no leader and no programming guide.
Henshaw disabled his link with the robot and thought for a moment. A sadistic grin spread across his face. He knew that, despite the untold power of his new body, Henshaw was just one person. He could never hope to withstand the might of the entire League. But, with an army, an army of killing machines to do his bidding…that could change.
Henshaw laughed,
"Now, I've got you, Superman!"
He reactivated his link and began tracking the remaining Manhunter clusters. While he was tracking, other tendrils sprouted and began reabsorbing more metal into the new Cyborg Superman's body. Once it was complete, he would begin the search for the Manhunter robot cells, and unite them. His revenge would be accomplished.
Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy…
Mongul was flying through space, wielding both the yellow ring and green ring. His search for the other lights continued through the vacuum of space, in his bid to discover the hidden power once all seven lights were united.
Recently, word had spread that a new Lantern, an orange one, had been draining Green Lantern Corps members of their energy and essence. The deposed ruler of Warworld had to find this being, and take his ring.
The Orange Lantern in question was a being known as Agent Orange. The orange color represented avarice, the unquenchable greed that bequeathed the ring wearer. As a result, there was only one Orange Lantern, but, by draining the essence of those around him, he could add them to his ever growing army of orange bringers of destruction, as constructs to be used against the enemy. Agent Orange was greedy to the extreme, and wanted everything he could lay his hands on. He was a scrawny grey alien, who coveted his orange lantern like a teddy bear. He would never give it up, no matter what.
Agent Orange had just finished draining two Lantern Corps members of their powers and essence. He cackled maniacally,
"MINE! IT'S ALL MINE! NOT YOURS! MINE! MINE! MINE!"
He was suddenly leveled by an emerald blast of energy. Agent Orange turned around and snarled,
"YOU!"
Mongul glared,
"Give me the orange ring, and I will ensure you die a quick death."
The orange Lantern shouted,
"NO! IT'S MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! AND SO ARE YOUR RINGS!"
He created orange constructs of the two dead Lanterns he just absorbed. The two now sported orange Lantern symbols and charged, shouting,
"MINE! GIVE IT TO ME!"
Mongul created a yellow construct of a double-barrelled shotgun and blew both of the constructs away with yellow buckshot. Agent Orange ran away, firing behind his shoulder,
"NO! YOU'LL NEVER TAKE IT FROM ME! IT'S MINE! MINE! IT'S ALL MINE!"
He created more constructs of former Lanterns and other beings he had absorbed. Mongul kept right on going, creating an emerald steamroller and plowing his way over the constructs that Agent Orange was creating to stop him.
However, the numbers game began taking its toll, and, Mongul was soon surrounded by several orange constructs all tackled him and an all out fist fight commenced.
The ruler of Warworld was used to taking a lot of punishment; he once took on Superman and nearly destroyed him on his battle planet. Mongul could also dish out a lot of punishment and, creating fists of emerald and yellow energy on either hand, proceeded to pound each construct hard. Mongul knew it was only going to be a matter of time before the avarice avatar would create enough constructs to overwhelm him, so he had to work fast.
Mongul created emerald and yellow constructs of soldiers, and launched them at the avarice Lantern. Agent Orange summoned as many of the essences as he could to assist him, but his obsessive greed got the better of him as he tried to absorb the energy from the rings. That was when one of the constructs struck him and, feeling dazed for a moment, allowed the ruler of Warworld to grab Agent Orange's hand and rip the ring off, complete with finger. Agent Orange shrieked,
"NO! IT'S MINE! YOU CAN'T HAVE-!"
His essence was then drained by the orange ring, and now, Agent Orange was a construct for the new, and solitary, Orange Lantern. Mongul grinned evilly,
"At last, more power is mine. However, it is still not enough. I must have more. I must have more rings."
He then had a startling realization; Earth. He may find more rings on Earth. Or, at the very least, people that could help power his Orange Lantern. Mongul powered up, glowing in an aura that changed from orange, to green, to yellow. His next destination...Earth.
Next Chapter:
Lobo is contracted to kidnap two members of the Justice League. Who are they, and who hired him? Stay tuned!