SMST: Hero Initiative! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: ""Sailor Moon", Ranma ½", "Star Trek", DC/Marvel Comics and other genres belong to the respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 35
Meanwhile…
SKREEEEEEEEE-!
THUMP!
Lady Shazam catches the mortar round in one hand. The shell was still hot, but that meant not for one who is blessed with Lord Achilles' "invulnerability".
"Thank you, goddess," says a woman, as she and her children scurried off for cover.
"This suck," Lady Shazam says, as she crushed the round. She turns to Martian Girl.
"Martian Girl, we cannot continue letting these people throw themselves at us."
"I KNOW," says Martian Girl with frustration, as she subdued some gunmen. But I don't think that these men know what they are doing."
"Huh?"
Martian Girl breathes out her frustration.
"Use your 'Wisdom', meatball-head!"
"Ha, ha," Lady Shazam says, as she focused on the battle. Possessing Solomon's wisdom gave the user a unique insight…
"Wait, these people," Lady Shazam began to say, as she discerns the scene. She could make out spiritual "webs" flanking outward, surrounding each of their attackers in a cocoon-like embrace.
"There is some…force directing their actions. It's as if their minds are being caught up…in a WEB."
Lady Shazam turns towards Martian Girl.
"I believe we have a situation with the Spider totem.
"Spider-totem?" Sailor Mercury says, as she used her Blue Lantern power ring to corral another group of armed bandits.
"Yes," Lady Shazam says. "The Spider totem is…an elementary force dedicated towards the Anansi…or were-spiders. In fact, spiders are normally worshipers of the Gaia, by way of the Weaver."
"'Normally'?" Sailor Venus asked, as she ran up to her friends. She had decided to find Makoto, after Victor, Frank and Hogan had relieved her in protecting the children.
"Well, there is a clan of were-spiders called the Kumo that were corrupted by evil, and serves evil by trying to dominate others."
Lady Shazam looks out onto the landscape.
"If the were-spiders are involved, then this is bad news."
"How so?" Martian Girl asked.
"Were-spiders do not involve themselves in the affairs of human beings. Something must have changed."
"Um, has anyone seen Makoto?" Sailor Venus asked.
All the girls turn to face their friend.
"No," Martian Girl replies. "I thought I had told you two to stay put."
"Rei, just because we don't have 'superpowers', that doesn't mean we're helpless," Sailor Venus says. "And besides, Makoto took off trying to find this girl that got away from us."
Sailor Mercury scans the area with her ring.
"Guys…"
"Yes?" Lady Shazam asks.
"I…I can't locate Makoto!"
"Damn," Lady Shazam replied. Then something dawned on her.
"Um, Sailor Mercury?"
"Yes?"
"Where did you get that ring?"
"Um…never mind that!" Sailor Mercury retorts. "We STILL have a problem to deal with."
"What are we going to do about these attacks?" Martian Girl asked.
Lady Shazam muses for a moment.
"Our priority is to protect this camp, as well as discover the source of the disturbance."
"But-" Sailor Venus began to say.
"I've said my piece. Besides, Makoto can take care of herself."
The girls look disappointed, but understand why Lady Shazam said what she said.
"So, what's the plan, 'leader girl'," Martian Girl asked.
"Gee, I'm GLAD that you admitted my 'position'."
"Well, it's the one no one has to worry about catching an STD."
"Ha, ha," Lady Shazam says, as she adjusted her stance. "You and Sailor Venus will hold the line, while Sailor Mercury and I investigate the source of the disturbance."
"But…how can I help?" Sailor Venus asked. "I don't have any special powers."
"You DO remember your training as the Bene Gesserit "Sayyadina", correct?"
"Oh, yeah," Sailor Venus says. "It has been a while since I've used those abilities for combat."
"Good, we're off," Lady Shazam says, as she and Sailor Mercury went to track down the source of the tragedy.
Meanwhile…
"You…know about my old name?" Makoto asks.
The old man smiles.
"Why would I forget the name of my own grandmother?" the Old Man says, as he became a handsome Black African. He was dressed in white robes that were finer than silk.
"I…I remember you…Obatala," Makoto says, as she touches the man face. "I told you bedtime stories about my adventures."
"As well as the adventures of 'The Wild Horse'," Obatala chuckled. "Though, I must say that I am disappointed that it is now that you are now visiting your homeland."
Makoto breaks away, and looks away.
"But…I'm Japanese, Obatala," Makoto says softly. "I…I didn't want to be tied to the land that was far from home."
"Then, perhaps you should have stay, Muwa," says a thunderous voice.
BOOM!
Where lightning struck, a powerful African god appears.
"Brother, you should not have come," Obatala says sternly. "And show some respect."
The man, wearing the ceremonial warrior's headdress, and possessing a stone war-hammer, steps forth to face the pair.
"My apologies, but the Changing bred needs to be stopped."
"You were always the hot-head of the bunch," Makoto says. "But why would this…Changing breed need to be stopped?"
"Ever since we gods have allowed humankind to chart their own destinies, others have tried to manipulate humans."
"They are stirring up old wounds amongst the children of Man, in an effort to take advantage of the Chaos," Shango says.
"Divide and conquer," Makoto says. "But…to what end?"
"The Moon Princess will find that out soon enough," Obatala says. "But you have to be here to heal the land…and its people."
"But how? I'm willing to help, of course."
Obatala and Shango turn towards to bubbling pond.
"Simply step into these holy waters…and be restored to who you really are."
Makoto looks at the pools, and then at her grandsons.
"Um, if you don't mind…?"
"Of course," Obatala says. He then turns to his brother. "Come, let's see if the Moon Princess' friends need our help."
"Humph!" Shango says, before the two disappear.
FLASH!
Makoto sighs, as she looked at her situation. She wondered if she was doing the right thing by opening "old wounds"…
"Nonsense," Makoto says to her self. "I'm doing this for the sake of my family…and OUR people."
With that, Makoto went into the pool, and sank within its depths. A moment later, the pools were still again.
Tbc.