DC Comics Presents: Killing Roy Harper
Chapter 14: Abel and Hawkman
By: Christopher W. Blaine
e-mail: darth_yoshi@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: Abel™, Hawkman™ and all other related characters and situations found in this story are ©2002 by DC Comics Inc. and are used herein without permission for fan-related, non-profit entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2002 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
From the personal journal of Andrew Bennett, Vampire…
For the past two days I have been working with the odd little caretaker of both the House of Mystery and the House of Secrets, trying to figure out a way to get out of this Hypertime Nexus. Abel has revealed to me that the most powerful being in this conflict between Limbo and the Prime Universe is none other than Mon-El, a former teen hero, transformed into a hateful, spiteful man after enduring year (centuries?) of abuse at the hands of General Zod and other Kryptonian criminals.
The war appears to be turning for the worst. From the upper floors of the House of Mystery we can see into the Phantom Zone. The view is extraordinary, as I can clearly see where the Phantom Zone of the Prime Universe is absorbing the last bits of that Zone left over from before the Crisis. I have so many questions; can I look into another universe that has an Andrew Bennett that is free of the vampire's curse that runs through my veins? Does that man love and laugh and enjoy days in the sunshine?
I digress and I have no time for it. I was sent here with the villain Dominus, a personality of the Earth-1Lex Luthor, to rescue Abel and his magical book from Zod's forces. Little did I know that Zod would have little use for the book since he was dead at the hands of Mon-El before we secured Abel's release. Unfortunately, because we did not understand the exact properties of the area we found ourselves in, Dominus appears to have fallen into some sort of dire straits. Only his armor, which is useless to a vampire, has been left behind.
As I stated, from here I can see the armies of Mon-El massing, various species and persons who had been relegated to Limbo at one time or another. Some went to the Phantom Zone, but there are other areas as well. Abel has told me that the effects of the Crisis are winding down and that the last vestiges of the old universe are slowly being eaten away by the new. If Mon-El, this version at least, wishes to be free, he must act now. On his dais he has the members of the Justice League of America: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, the Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man. All of them are his prisoner and Superman looks the worst of them all. Abel tells me that in his book it mentions specifically this Mon-El, a creature of rage who hates all things Kryptonian.
He has also told me how important it is for Mon-El to be defeated. If he manages to get into the Prime Universe, if he can get past the defenses that are left, then he will be unstoppable. His rage, plus the fact that Pre-Crisis Daxamites (what a title!) are more powerful than the current ones, will make him a force to be reckoned with! Add to that the inevitable return of the Time-Guardian (why can't anyone simply use their Christian given names anymore?) will turn the universe into a battleground.
I cannot get word to Hal Jordan, leader of the Order (which makes me wonder if the Order knew about the shrinking of Limbo?) because the way is blocked by the Grundy, a powerful being that I have no hopes of defeating.
If Abel's book offers any clues, the caretaker is doing well to keep them away from me. In fact, when he left this morning for his daily walk, he took the book with him even though I gave my word not to look inside it.
I am stuck here forever. Thank God I no longer have the thirst…
Slowly, Abel approached the brooding figure, though it had not been the first time. Ever since he had first noticed the man who perched himself up high in the trees, he had been curious as to his exact story. As much as he wanted to ask him how he had gotten there and what he waiting for, the wicked looking morning star in his hand kept the cowardly caretaker away.
Now, however, it was a different story. It wasn't as if Abel was worried about his House or his brother's House being taken over, but he felt slightly guilty about being instrumental in causing the events that had led to the current war. His life was boring, though, and he missed his brother sorely. Perhaps Cain was someplace peaceful, one of those realms even the House of Mystery could not penetrate.
Perhaps not.
And that was the reason he was going to swallow his fear and speak with the man in the tree. If his reputation was true, it was possible he could defeat the Grundy and get word to Jordan. Maybe then the forces of the Order could be rallied to save the Justice League who would in turn save the day.
"You see," he said silently to himself, "I don't know if my brother is down there on that new Earth."
The man in the tree stretched and yawned and the massive wings on his back fluttered. If he saw Abel approaching, he made no sign of noticing. Abel knew from his book that Hawkman had extremely keen eyesight however, as well as the ability to speak with birds. Well, at least some Hawkmen could.
"Excuse me, Mr. Hawkman?" Abel started as he stood at the bottom of the tree.
Hawkman looked down. "You're the fat guy in the houses down the road, aren't you? What's the matter, tubby, can fit in just one?"
Nothing in his book had ever said Hawkman was so rude! "I…that is…"
"Quit looking in that damn book for everything!" the Winged Wonder said as he leapt out of the tree and dropped to the ground. His wings flapping ever so slightly to ensure he didn't land too hard. "The owls talk about you, always looking in that book. Going from the House that's always there to the other one that disappears all of the time. That's a weird area over there."
"I need your help," Abel blurted out.
Hawkman shrugged his massive shoulders. "So? Go find a super-hero. I'm busy." He started to rise again, but Abel started to plead.
"Good sir, really, I need your help!"
Hawkman again dropped to the ground and put his weapon is his belt. He then folded his arms over his barrel chest. "How do you even know I'm Hawkman? I don't even know if I'm Hawkman. Ever since that Crisis, the name Hawkman has become a joke! Do you know how many alternate versions of me were created after the Crisis? I'm the bug in the perfect system!"
"I'm sorry…I don't quite follow…" Abel said from behind chattering teeth. In the shadows of the trees, the man in front of him resembled more demon than man. Perhaps it was something deep within the human DNA, some small part of the mammal code that made it fear things like large birds; or maybe it was the fact that the man towering over him was nothing more than a flesh and blood fighting machine! It didn't really matter, for the effect was the same: Abel was in fear of his life.
"That's my problem, I don't follow either. It's like buying a new car and it has a broken door lock; Hawkman is the door lock and the universe is the car. I've been shifted between realities so much it isn't even funny." The man sounded sad and Abel relaxed a little.
He did recall a passage in his book that talked about the problem associated with Hawkman, that his presence was never fully secured in the Prime Universe until very recently. He was a walking Hypertime flux, much the same way Donna Troy had been at one time. Ms. Troy's problem was caused by magic; Hawkman's was caused by chance. He was constantly being replaced in the Prime Universe by duplicates and doubles and each shift caused time to alter just a little bit. "I spent like a total of five seconds in the Prime Universe and then ended up in that tree," he said as he pointed up. "What the hell is that about?"
"I hear they have fixed that problem," Abel offered.
Hawkman laughed. "Fat lot of good it did me! I figured this was hell or something…"
"It's a Hypertime Nexus; you must have gotten trapped her by accident," Abel said, finally understanding. "Or you don't have a home yet."
"A Hawkman out of time," the hero lamented. After a few moments of silence, he asked Abel what it was that he wanted that was so important. The caretaker went into great detail, explaining the entire debacle starting from the magic lighting bolt that open a hole in time for the Earth-2 Speedy to walk through and ending with Mon-El's declaration of war against the Prime Universe. Hawkman, by no means an unintelligent person, took it all in, surprised by how much the little fat man knew. Abel's ability to weave any tale in a fantastic, larger than life way, actually caused Hawkman to forget his own problems for a moment.
"Let me get this straight: The Earth-2 Speedy is still alive and he thinks God gave him the shaft. So, in revenge, he decides to tear through Hypertime and the Prime Universe, destroying anyone who remotely resembles him before he makes a play to alter the Crisis wave and take over the universe. The problem is that you, in your boredom, opened up the gates to this new world and allowed a bunch of heroes that should be dead…heroes basically waiting in the nothingness of time for the end…to come back to life to battle this guy."
"I also caused a bunch of super-villains to go through, though the Time-Guardian thought he had done it," Abel said quietly.
Hawkman shook his head and put his hands on his hips. "So, this Speedy fella thinks he's the king of the world until these heroes, which included a feces throwing chimpanzee, hand him his ass. Then another time villain steps in and tries to take control, but he can't because Speedy's powers are magical in nature and will return to him no matter what."
"Yes, it seems that the Time-Guardian did not realize that time cannot be changed; even with a Crisis wave, except at the beginning of time." Abel chuckled, as if temporal physics were simple common knowledge. "All he succeeded in doing was creating a Hypertime stream, but one where innocent people did suffer and die."
"Oh, I'm sure you were heartbroken," Hawkman added with sarcasm. "So, while Speedy is charging up, someone discovers that all of this tossing Crisis waves around has put a whole in Limbo, where the remaining elements of the Pre-Crisis universe are being soaked up. Seems the citizens that have some wits aren't too happy to just stand by and die." Hawkman started to rise. "Can't help ya, fatty!"
Abel started to cough and it took him several minutes to regain his composure. He watched as Hawkman once again took his up his spot on the branch, looking out over the swamp. "Why not? People's lives are at stake!"
"As if you care! Look, I guess I'm sympathetic. I wouldn't stand around waiting to die either. Hell, maybe I'll go join them!" he called down.
Abel shook his head. "No!"
"Buzz off, chunky, I've got things to do!" Hawkman said before falling into his silent stare. Abel tried to get his attention for several more minutes, but it was no use. He had to come up with a better argument. He tried coming up with one on the long walk back to the House.
"I'd like to officially welcome both the Flying Fox and Robin to our little group, though Robin has elected to become our first reserve member so he can pursue other interests outside of being a super-hero," Nightwing said from his spot at the end of the long table. They were in the mansion headquarters of the Time Wardens, the name of their team of heroes united in the cause of defending Hypertime and the Prime Universe from villains like the Time-Guardian.
A young man in a purple suit and orange mask bowed to the other members as they clapped and Robin began to blush. The Wardens were severely under strength with the deaths of Detective Chimp, Cinnamon, Elastic Lad and Batwoman. The two former members of Limbo were welcome additions.
"I think its great that we can offer some measure of peace to some more lost souls," Aquagirl said. She squeezed Kid Flash's hand under the table.
"Indeed," Nightwing replied. "Who knows who else will suddenly appear or why?"
Deadman, still in the body of the previous owner waved a cigar. "Ain't telling what I know. Just be happy I'm getting you more recruits."
"I see a definite Bat-motif here," the Huntress quipped.
"Can we stop the joking and get down to business?" the Dark Flash asked. He had been in a foul mood since his return from Limbo where he learned just how crazy the universe really was. There, he and Robin had fought two hyper-powered teenagers who had been going around, slaying anyone they came across. The boy, Wonder Marv, was currently imprisoned in the "Tombs" of the mansion.
The Tombs was a special prison that Nightwing had constructed using advanced Kryptonian science. It currently housed not only Wonder Marv, but also the Psycho-Pirate.
"Word is that the Legion of Doom has gotten rid of all of the other heroes," Deadman said, suddenly getting serious.
"I'm sorry," Robin started as he doodled on the cast on his wrist, "but tell me again why you guys didn't help put the heroes."
"It wouldn't have done any good. Most of them had been under the Time-Guardian's control for so long that their brains fried. Superman, especially, had been hit the hardest. We would not have been able to prevent it and besides, stopping the Time-Guardian takes priority." The Dark Flash looked over at the Teen Wonder. "This ain't the Teen Titans, buddy; we play for keeps."
"So, Speedy should be making some sort of announcement soon to say that the Legion of Doom are the good guys, hoping to flush us out," Nightwing said, rubbing his chin.
"That would make the most sense. He can't find us because he doesn't know who we all are…yet," Aquagirl added. "Eventually, they'll start to figure it out."
"Don't forget the war in Limbo," the Flying Fox reminded them. He had been with Batwoman when the Grundy had killed her. The experience had shown him just how serious that conflict was.
"I've been told that the Order has it under control," Deadman lied. He needed this team to concentrate on one problem: the Time-Guardian. If he ever realized that he had the ability to create Hypertime strings, he could literally begin stretching time to its limit.
That was why he had been brought in to begin with; the forces of ultimate good knew that too many Hypertime realities and dimensional walls could fall. The result would make the Crisis look like a summer rain shower. It had been hoped that the Guardian would simply make himself a reality to live in and leave it at that, but that was not to be.
Instead, the Time-Guardian had gone off on a crusade, believing that his life had been taken away and given to the Earth-1 Speedy. It simply wasn't true; the new universe was as different and unique as anything that had come before it. No "templates" were used and no people were carried over. Time merely started up once again.
The sudden appearance of the heroes on this world, dubbed Earth-T (for Time-Trapper, Time Wardens or Time-Guardian depending on your taste) had been a godsend…literally. It gave the forces of good the opportunity to set things right again and the lost heroes had done an excellent job despite the casualties.
Time, however, was not on their side. Deadman had secretly hoped for some more powerful members to show up, but they were not forthcoming. He wished he knew exactly where it was they were coming from so he could go there with a big sign asking for help. They were going to need it very soon.
Abel came back that afternoon, carrying a tray of bran muffins. "I thought you might be hungry," he said up into the tree.
Hawkman looked down at him. "And constipated?"
"I thought super-heroes believed in good colon health," Abel said bemused. He would have to read over that chapter again as it now did not sound right as he spoke it out loud.
"I'll take a beer if you have one."
Abel was becoming miffed and nearly let loose with his own smart comment, but the bulging bicep of the hero in the tree stilled his tongue. He was in a real bind and if he did not think of something soon, his brother could be well on the way to a very painful experience! "You know, Mon-El has the Justice League hostage; weren't you a member of the League?"
"Didn't I tell you that I faded in then out of existence? I didn't get a chance to belong to the human race!" Hawkman broke off a branch and threw it at Abel. "Go away, Blimpy!"
Abel dodged the missile with reflexes born of true cowardice. "The Earth is in great danger!"
"So? Bunch of monkeys anyway…"
"Then Mon-El will go after Rann…"
Hawkman chuckled at this. For years, the planet Rann and his home planet of Thanagar had been aggressive rivals, sometimes even trading blows. "Hell, I might help him!"
Abel smacked his forehead. A light then suddenly went on deep in his mind and he coughed, conjuring up his best speaking voice. Years of storytelling had prepared him for this moment. He only wished that he were back in his own home, or perhaps even his brother's home (which was kind of silly since his brother didn't really own the House as much as he just stayed there to wash his socks!) and not out in the woods!
"Think of it, my dear Hawkman, think of what will happen after Rann." Hawkman stirred a little and looked down. Abel knew he had his attention. "He will look out on the star charts, looking for other worlds to conquer and there will be Thanagar, a shining jewel in a dark galaxy. There his Phantom Zone escapees will descend, bringing down the high towers of worship and raiding the homes of the common man!"
Hawkman appeared to stop breathing. "Oh, and then the true horrors will occur!"
"What? What horrors?" Hawkman asked, his interest more than obvious in the tone of his voice.
"The women," Abel whispered, preying upon Hawkman's obvious need to be macho. "Imagine their horror as virginal Thanagarian women are rounded up for the baser conquests that come with war! Mon-El will sell your women into sexual bondage to all kinds of species to fund his war machine!"
The Winged Wonder jumped from the tree branch and came down hard next to Abel. There was an aura of anger surrounding Hawkman and Abel realized that maybe he had spoken too well. Hawkman pulled the morning star from his belt and swung it slowly. "Show me where to go."
The Grundy sniffed the air using senses that had been dead for untold years. The Grundy enjoyed being able to smell again and it had started to notice many changes since the men had come to visit him. He had wanted to kill the men, to suck their brains out of their skulls, but they promised him that he would be able to kill a lot of people.
So far, they had been wrong, as he had only been able to kill that funny woman in yellow and red. Her blood had tasted good, but he had not been able to get any of her succulent brain. He missed eating brains, especially young ones!
His dim mind remembered a world he had once lived on and how the man with the flaming ring had fought him, trying to take his food away! That had made him very angry! Even now, when he thought about it, it made him made and he growled a low rumbling roar.
A new scent hit his nostrils as he did so and he whirled around to see what could only be the biggest chicken he had ever seen. He smacked his lips as he looked at the wings, wishing he had something to fry them in. He liked fried chicken.
Hawkman regarded the monster, who instead of charging him, drooled. He looked back to Abel, who was a safe distance away. "This is your big, bad threat?"
The Grundy tried to talk to the chicken, making its best clucking sounds and it got some sort of rise out of the chicken. The bird cocked its head to the side, confused. The Grundy had caught a lot of chickens this way. Chickens were dumb.
"Is he clucking at me?" Hawkman asked. "You sorry sack of…"
The chicken raised a big metal ball on a chain and hit the Grundy and the monster felt several teeth break loose. That was okay because the magic that filled the Grundy's body always healed its wounds real good after awhile.
"Oh, so you like that, do ya? Here, have some more!" the Thanagarian warrior cried as he smacked the Grundy twice more. The second hit broke something in the skull and the monster's eyes rolled into the back of its head. Without another sound, it fell backwards and landed with a thud. "Doorway is clear!" Hawkman announced in triumph. He poked his head through to the other side and was greeted with a sight beyond his wildest imaginations.
Phantoms, ghosts and spirits whisked by even as he saw planets forming and exploding in the crimson skies above. There were sounds and smells and sensations that were hypnotic. "You are seeing the true nature of Hypertime…the universe itself considering all possibilities for all questions. No answers here my friend, only the musings of God."
"How do you know where this doorway leads?" he asked silently.
"Oh, you don't and neither do I! I was hoping that maybe someone was watching and waiting for something," Abel said from well behind Hawkman. "However…I submit to you that it is possible for you to navigate these passages between dimensions."
Hawkman backed out of the doorway and turned to regard the fat, little man. "I'm all ears."
"There are some people who are, shall we say, specifically in tune with Hypertime. These are persons who seem displaced but serve a purpose nonetheless. Persons like you, miss Donna Troy and even Hawkgirl."
"Hawkwoman, Puffy," the Winged Wonder said with a ruffle of his feathers. Suddenly, he started to understand why he felt so lost in the universe. What was a Hawkman without a Hawkwoman? You couldn't make a nest without having a few eggs could you? "So, you think I can just navigate through here, no problem?" He looked back into the swirling mass and shook his head.
"Well, more likely you could home in on the main Limbonic Plane. I doubt you could just pick your way through everything," Abel said as he opened the book. He read a few pages and then moved to the back of the tome, where Hawkman assumed was an index. After another five minutes, Abel smiled. "Yes! Just follow your nose!"
"I am not Toucan Sam and this is not a cereal commercial!"
"No! Limbo is straight ahead from any doorway. Most people can't walk a straight line without reference, but you can! You might just be able to feel your way there!" Abel clapped his hands. He was nearer his goal of saving his brother!
Hawkman shrugged. "I suppose it beats sitting in a tree. See ya, Tubby!" Without looking back, he jumped through the doorway and into the chaos beyond.
"Yeah, so gets this," the one-eyed "pirate" version of Morgan Edge said as he sharpened his cutlass on a rock that had suddenly appeared. "That lubber Mon-El, he's nothin' but the Barrel Boy for Zod, Kru-El and the others until that white wave comes through!" The red-haired man just nodded and waited for the sea dog to continue.
"Then, all hell's broke loose, matey; I tell ya, I nearly floundered on the poop deck if ya catch my meaning!" he broke into a raucous laugh, but the red-haired man said nothing. He didn't get the joke.
He hoped.
"Anyways, when Zod sees that he's a doomed scallywag, he abuses the boy even more. Made him the Sea Bitch for the entire Phantom Zone. Har! Har! The boy finally snaps and starts killing all of the dogs as soon as that there hole opens up!"
"So, is he from this universe?"
The pirate choked and spit some tobacco on the ground. "Argh! Are ya daft, boy? We's all chum waiting for the White Wave to come gets us! I hears that in another…say seven years as the good Christian count 'em, this whole place be nothing but a page in a book of history!" Another wad of brown spit hit the ground. "Damn lucky this hole showed up when it did! The first thing I'm gonna do is put Little Morgan inta Port Lois Lane! Har! Har!"
The red-haired man laughed, guessing the meaning of the joke and stood up, surveying the encampment of renegades, duplicates and losers. Each one was fighting for their survival here and while he sympathized, he reasoned that the Great Spirit had left them here to die for a reason.
Roy Harper's sharp eyes looked up at the dais, where the elite soldiers of Mon-El were now having fun with the Flash. He burned in rage at the sight of one of his best friends being abused, but there was nothing he could do right now. Mon-El had his magical forces battling it out with the JSA and Young Justice, while these forces waited for the conduit that would deposit them on the Earth.
An Earth, it appeared, that had forgotten him.
It didn't matter because he hadn't forgotten it or the reason why he was here. A younger version of himself with a hate-on for the universe. He had taken Lian away from him and as much as he wanted to keep looking for her, it wouldn't do any good if there were no home for them to go back to. Besides, Jade was still down there and as much as it pained him, he couldn't deny the fact that he was in love with the terrorist.
He had to get the Justice League free, but he didn't know how. Mon-El was allergic to lead and had to remain partially within the confines of the Phantom Zone while a cure was sought. Roy wondered if it were possible to connect to the "real" Phantom Zone, the one of his universe. He was sure that there was someone there who could help him, but since he couldn't reach it, it didn't matter.
What he needed was just one bullet. He knew he could throw it hard enough to get through Mon-El's eye or something like that. He didn't relish the idea of killing, but he was a former government agent. To save the world, yes, he would kill.
To save his daughter he would kill.
That meant either he or Mon-El was going to be dead by the end of the day.