Infinity Crisis Aftermath: Downtime-712
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their owners. This is just for fun.
I was inspired to write this by reading Ben2Dartmouth's "Infinity Crisis Aftermath: Golden Agency". I loved how they expanded on the Golden Agency concept and I thought I'd do a bit more expansion of Earth-712 myself. So, enjoy!
Squadron Supreme HQ
"I take it the mission went well?" Arcanna asked Blue Eagle/James Dore III and Lady Eagle/Ciara Biniaz.
"Like a charm." Ciara nodded, a smile on her face. "We got the Argonite to Doctor Mordrid."
"Good." Arcanna said. "I know Anton well. He's a good man. He'll keep it safe. He's also quite a powerful sorcerer, so he can handle Hyperion if he has to."
"We ended up helping him deal with a magical threat called Torlun alongside a superhero of that world. Somebody called Arachnia." Blue Eagle recalled. "Lady with spider-themed powers."
"Reminded us of Arachne back here. That girl in New York." Ciara recalled. She turned to James. "Remember her, babe?"
"Mm." James nodded. "We teamed up with her to deal with Iron Moth and Mr. Liquid. Nice young lady. Would make a great Squadron member one day." Arcanna put her hand to her ear.
"Ah, Lady Whizzer is ready to return." The blonde sorceress smiled. She conjured up a portal. A trim woman with a toned body stepped through it. She wore a silver costume with blue boots and gloves. The right shoulder was blue, with a lightning bolt going over her chest to her left hip. Her short dark hair was in a bob. Her eyes and mouth were covered by a pair of golden goggles with blue lenses and a silver cowl. She pulled them down, showing her face. Her features and complexion revealed she was Afro-Korean.
Lady Whizzer. Real Name: Danica Yim. Birthplace: Oakland, CA. Affiliation: Squadron Supreme (Honorary). Physiology: Enhanced Human. Powers and Abilities: Superhuman speed.
"Lady Whizzer." Blue Eagle nodded.
"I take it your mission was a success?" Arcanna asked.
"You bet!" Danica smiled, giving a thumbs up.
"What world did you visit?" A curious Ciara asked.
"A world that looked straight out of the 50s." Yim answered. "I met a group of superheroes there called the Justice Society. They reminded me a lot of those old guys that you Squadron guys hang out with on occasion."
"You mean the Golden Agency." Ciara said. She looked at James, who was wincing. "James, they don't hold your grandfather's jackassery against you. They didn't against your father."
"Yeah, but still..." James sighed. "My dad changed his codename to Blue Eagle because of my grandfather. It's not that I don't like any of the Golden Agency guys, it's just...it's awkward, considering what kind of man he was..."
"You're not him, honey." Ciara assured. "And neither was your father. You don't have to bear the shame of his flaws..."
"Yeah, man." Danica agreed. "The Bald Eagle was a birdbrain, no offense." As the three heroes talked, Arcanna found herself lost in thought.
We're going to need some more help. The blonde sorceress realized, her hands steepled. The Multiverse is vast. Very vast. Wait, there's a bunch of heroes Nighthawk worked with on occasion. What were they called again? Ah right, the Strangers. She tapped some keys on a nearby keyboard, and a quartet of images on the screen. The first was a Black man wearing a predominately black costume. The arms and shoulders were yellow, and the yellow piping formed a lightning bolt-style stripe that went down his center. The costume had yellow boots and black gloves, and was completed by a black cowl with a yellow lightning bolt on it.
The second depicted a Japanese woman, wearing a black bodysuit with a red gi top and loincloth with a black bodysuit beneath it. The gi had white highlights, and on the right side had the kanji for 'wakizashi' in white. She wore red knee-length boots with white greaves, and black gloves with red bands around her wrists. A katana was sheathed at her side in a red scabbard, held up by a silver belt. A red cowl that let her jet black hair (done up in a bun) free hid her identity.
The third was a redhead wearing a predominantly light green costume. The costume was also covered in thin black squiggly lines. The costume's cowl let his hair free. His gloves and boots were dark green. From the dark green belt, matching piping went over his shoulders.
The fourth is a brunette woman in a predominantly light pink bodysuit with a black collar. The outfit had black rings around her left arm, and parallel black horizontal lines ending in green and yellow arrows. Her identity was hidden by a pink cowl with green and yellow around the eyes. The cowl of the suit covered her face, but let her chocolate brown hair go free, which was slicked back.
Michael "Hypervolt" Samson. Naomi "Wakizashi" Nakamura. Hal "Haywire" Danforth. Edith "Inertia" Freiberg. Arcanna recalled. I think they'll help us out if we ask them. The blonde sorceress looked at her watch. "I have to go. Take five, guys. I have another conference to attend to." She got up and left the room."
"Say hi to Anton if you see him!" Ciara called out.
Detroit, Michigan
A young Black woman flew over the skies of the Motor City. She wore a predominantly blue costume with yellow highlights and a yellow and black symbol of an atom on it, as well as yellow gloves and boots. The costume had a cowl that only showed the lower half of her face, and yellow-tinted lenses over the eyes.
Jasmine landed at the front door, having changed her costume back into street clothes: A blue polo shirt and blue jeans with black sneakers. She pressed the button, ringing the doorbell. The young superhuman sighed and nervously bounced on her foot.
God, I haven't been this nervous since Al introduced me to them. Jasmine sighed.The door opened, revealing a smiling blonde bespectacled woman.
"Jasmine!" Florence Gaines greeted with a smile. She grabbed the young metahuman in a hug. "It's been too long!"
"Hello, Mrs. Gaines." The young heroine smiled. "I'm so sorry I haven't been here since Al's funeral..."
"Gil, Scott, and I worried so much about you." Florence said. "I understand. I know you have been busy with college and the Squadron and all..."
"I know." Jasmine said as Florence let her in the house. "I just...I felt so bad about Al's death and all..."
"It wasn't your fault, sweetheart." Florence said. "Al knew the risks of what he did. At least his sacrifice helped drive that monster away." She led the superhuman into the living room. On an armchair, a dark-haired man sat and read a newspaper. On the couch next to the armchair was a teenage blond boy, around 16 years of age. He had a small open plastic box sitting on the couch next to him, filled with Lego pieces of various sizes, shapes, and colors. He was absently watching the TV while fiddling with his Legos. "Boys, look who's here." The two looked over.
"Jasmine!" Gilbert exclaimed in pleased surprise, putting down his paper.
"Jazz!" Scotty Gaines whooped. He jumped up and gave her a hug. "How you been?"
Jasmine smiled. "Just fine, thanks. Sorry I haven't visited in a while."
"It's cool. I can imagine that Squadron stuff must be keeping you busy." Scotty nodded. "You wanna see the new Lego set I got?"
"Sure." Jasmine nodded. Scotty eagerly ran up the stairs. She glanced at a photo on the wall. It showed a younger Jasmine alongside a blond-haired young man.
"He loved you, you know." Florence said. Jasmine nodded.
"I know. Al told me every day. I remember I was so afraid of how he'd react because we started dating before I was outed. I mean, my own family basically tossed me out on the curb when that happened..." She shuddered as she thought back on that day. She remembered it very well. She and a fellow student named Irene Knight had both had eyes for the handsome Albert Gaines. Gaines's heart chose Jasmine, and Irene did not take it well. Jasmine never learned how Irene discovered it she was trans, but it didn't matter. Irene publicly outed Jasmine, hoping it would humiliate her and disgust Albert. But the plan half-worked. Jasmine was humiliated. But Albert was far from disgusted. He called her the bravest woman he ever knew, and it only made him love her more. He kept up that sentiment after he got his powers and joined the Squadron Supreme. He worked with such heroines as Arcanna, Skymax, and Zarda, but their bravery paled in comparison to hers in his eyes.
Jasmine's eyes teared up a bit when she remembered Albert telling his family about her afterwards and introducing her to them. They took her in and treated her as one of their own.
"Who cares about them, kiddo?" Gilbert said, putting a comforting hand on Jasmine's shoulder. "My brother struggled with his being gay for years. I was the only one in my family who accepted him for who he was."
"And you're a sweetheart." Florence added. "You made our Al such a happy young man..."
"Here it is, Jas!" Scotty came down, holding a Lego set of a blue-and-gray futuristic spaceship. "This is a new set based on the old Lego Space themed sets of the 1980s."
"Wow, that's neat, Scott." Jasmine complimented.
"Thanks!" Scotty grinned. "This was so much fun to build. I hope they do more updated old-school-homaging sets like this. I'd love a new take on the classic Castle sets. I've been saving up for the Optimus Prime set." He leaned over and whispered to her. "It actually transforms. I've seen videos of it. It's so cool."
"Hope you get it, pal." Jasmine winked.
"Me, too. Maybe they'll make an Astrotrain one." Scotty said hopefully.
"We were just about to have dinner." Gilbert said. "You you like to join us, Jasmine? It's been a while since we had you at the table."
Jasmine smiled. "I'd like that, thank you."
Montpelier, Vermont
A taxi cab pulled up in front of a nice little wooden house. A stunning Samoan woman emerged from the back, carrying a duffel bag. She wore a dark purple suit with a white blouse, and matching practical heels. She walked up to the front window, giving the driver some money.
"My thanks to you." She said sincerely to the driver. Zarda walked up to the front door. Inside, a brunet man was sitting on the couch, watching the TV. He wore a US Navy t-shirt and blue jeans and brown cowboy boots.
"Touchdown!" The TV announced.
"Yes!" Howard Shelton whooped, pumping his fist triumphantly. "Go Navy!" Howard's supporting the navy football team made sense. Back in WWII, he was a young sailor, ready to ship out to fight the Nazis. He would find himself entering a whole new world when he crossed paths with a certain immortal Golden Agency and Squadron Supreme member...
The man perked up as he heard the knocking. He got up and walked to the door. He peered through the peephole, and saw Zarda. A smile perked up on his face, and he let her in.
"Hey there, hon."
"Howard, my love." Zarda hugged and kissed her husband. "It's been too long."
"Is that Zarda?" A woman's voice asked from the kitchen.
"You bet, Liv." Howard grinned. A beautiful Native American woman walked into the room, drying her hands with a washcloth. She wore a yellow blouse and blue jeans, with sandals. Around her wrists were a pair of small silver bracelets.
"Zarda!" Olivia Bluefeather smiled warmly. She hugged and gave Zarda a kiss. Olivia Bluefeather was a photographer Zarda and Howard Shelton met not long after WWII ended. Thanks to the Golden Agency battling a supervillain called Darkshadow in 1946, the members of the Agency and their loved ones were bathed in chronal energies. This resulted in Shelton and Bluefeather's aging being slowed to the point they may as well be immortal.
"I am so sorry I haven't seen you two in a while." The powerhouse apologized sincerely to her partners.
"It's alright, Zarda." Olivia assured. "We know that you've been busy with the Squadron, considering the carnage that Hyperion monster caused." The three took a seat on a couch.
"I'm curious about that Doctor guy who helped you out." Howard admitted.
"So am I." Olivia agreed.
"He was an interesting man." Zarda recalled amusingly. "Very grumpy, but interesting. He was of great help to us in stopping that monstrous version of Hyperion." The Samoan powerhouse sighed. "I wish we had been able to keep that madman from escaping to another universe."
"Same here." Howard admitted.
"Honestly, this whole 'multiverse' thing makes my head spin." Olivia admitted. "I mean, it sounds like something out of a science fiction novel." She shrugged. "But then, who am I to judge, really?"
"There are more things on Heaven and Earth, Horatio..." Howard added. The three sat down on the couch together. Zarda smiled and put her arms over her partners' shoulders.
"I have neglected you two, and I am sorry. I'm glad you all understand."
"Wasn't your fault, Zarda." Olivia assured. "Besides, Howard and I still had each other."
Zarda nodded, and looked at the TV. She shot Howard an amused grin. "The Army-Navy game?"
"Yup." Howard nodded. "Navy's gonna take it this year. They got a couple good linebackers and a helluva quarterback."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "I'll never get Howard's love of football." She smirked wickedly. "Now, basketball? That's a sport!" Zarda chuckled as she watched her partners banter over which sport she liked. She had no opinion on it either way. The Utopian powerhouse eased back on the couch and tried to relax. However, a small part of her worried. Worried the the evil Hyperion was only a sign of bigger problems...
I originally had intended to introduce Stanley Stewart at some point, but since Ben2Dartmouth did so in Golden Agency, I had to change my plans. Which was fine, as I got to create a new Whizzer: Danica Yim. Her name is a nod to Danica Patrick, and her surname (as well as her being Afro-Korean) is a nod to pro wrestler Mia Yim. I can kind of imagine her to be the Squadron's answer to Jesse Quick. The world she visited is a world I'm designating Earth-1941. It's meant to be an Earth based on the Fleischer Superman cartoons. I am working on another Infinity Crisis Aftermath one-shot set in that world, called Justice Society.
Hypervolt and Wakizashi are meant to be nods to Outsiders members Black Lightning and Katana, respectively. I originally intended to call her "Kunoichi", but I thought that since she was an expy of a character whose codename comes from a Japanese sword, I thought that it would be funny to have her also take a codename from another type of Japanese sword. Fun fact, samurai traditionally had two pairs of swords called the daisho: A katana and a wakizashi. And the team name "Strangers" is obviously a nod to the Outsiders. "Stranger" is a synonym of "Outsider".
The idea of Zarda being in a polyamorous relationship is a nod to Wonder Woman's creator, William Moulton Marston. He was in one himself until his death in 1947. One of his partners was a writer named Olive Byrne. Byrne was known for wearing silver bracelets and is considered one of the inspirations for Wonder Woman. Olivia Bluefeather is named after her, and her wearing silver bracelets is a nod to Byrne as well.