DC Comics Presents: Killing Roy Harper
Chapter 16: Shyla and Green Lantern
By: Christopher W. Blaine
e-mail: darth_yoshi@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: Shyla™, Green Lantern™ 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.
"This is Lana Lang reporting live for WGBS news," the scarlet-haired reporter began. The members of the Wardens (now shortened from the name of Time Wardens) gathered around the television. It had been nearly two weeks since the real Roy Harper had been rescued from Limbo and brought to Earth-T and in that time, the hunt for their headquarters, conducted by the Legion of Doom, had only intensified.
The world they were on was a duplicate of the true Earth, an alternate reality trapped in a pocket universe created by the Time-Trapper when the villainous Time-Guardian, in reality the pre-Crisis Earth-2 Roy Harper, had tried to rewrite history. When the Wardens had destroyed the Guardian's machines that held back the Crisis wave, it had caused havoc throughout the universe and Hypertime.
One of the results was that a hole had formed between the shrinking Pre-Crisis Phantom Zone and Limbo, the non-dimension that linked the various timelines and realities. General Zod, a Kryptonian criminal trapped in the Phantom Zone, tried to raise an army to invade the prime universe. He was usurped by Mon-El, a hero transformed into a conqueror by years of psychological abuse, who was ultimately defeated through the efforts of Dawnstar, Super-Squirrel and the real Roy Harper.
The Time-Guardian, originally separated from his powers by the creation of the pocket universe, was now back to his normal levels and had searched his planet far and wide looking for the Wardens, whom he saw as his only bump in the road to assuming the role of the prime universe's Roy Harper. So far, they had been unsuccessful.
"The former leader of the Justice Society and now leader of the Legion of Doom will soon be giving a brief press release on the current status of the hunt for the super-criminals that aided many former super-heroes in their attempt to take over the world." Nightwing, the team leader for the Wardens, coughed at the suggestion. The truth was that the Time-Guardian had lost control of the various duplicate heroes that had been created on this world and had been forced to enlist his Legion of Doom to destroy them.
In his studies of the phenomenon of Hypertime, the scientist inside of Nightwing had discovered some universal truths that he had not shared yet. He was beginning to develop several theories about the nature of time and space, theories that told him, if he was correct, that if they did not succeed in stopping the Time-Guardian, the result would be the utter devastation of creation itself!
He reached over and took the offered hand of the Huntress, Helena Wayne of the pre-Crisis Earth-2. Her father had been the Batman of that long since forgotten world and had fought alongside the Time-Guardian when as Speedy, partner to Green Arrow, he had been a hero.
"Your science has gone a long way in protecting everyone here," the Dark Flash said to Nightwing. The hero accepted the compliment with a simple nod. It was true that the energy field he had surrounding the mansion they were based in protected them from even the most intrusive of scans, but it was only a matter of time before Alexi Luthor, the Legion of Doom's top scientist, came up with something that the heroes could not counter.
On the television, clad in the familiar red and yellow costume of Speedy, the Time-Guardian stepped up to the podium.
"I have a brief statement," he said into the microphone. He was on the verge of exploding into a fit of rage as he saw how far his plans had fallen. All he had wanted was to live the life he felt that God and the universe had taken away from him. The Crisis wave had destroyed his world and left him a phantom, floating about the new universe with no way to become mortal again.
He had watched in horror as another Roy Harper, the Earth-1 version he had wrongly assumed, lived out the life that should have been his. For decades he watched as the imposter, as he felt, refused to grow up, used drugs and slept with foreign women. Only after that Roy Harper had died had the Time-Guardian been able to resume a physical form.
He had been changed, though; he was now powerful, developing abilities that let him see through time and into possible outcomes. He was also immortal, stuck in the body of a sixteen year-old boy. For untold billions of years he had lived until the very end of time. By then, he had developed the ability to travel through time at will and he began a plan to fix what he saw was wrong with the universe.
He started small, killing only the alternate versions of himself scattered throughout Hypertime. Eventually, as his rage grew with each abomination of himself he encountered, his attacks became more savage as he employed weapons of destruction from one universe against another. Whole realities fell before him until he finally sent the Composite-Superman to kill the prime universe version of himself.
With that version's death, a hole developed in the timeline and the Time-Guardian exploited it using a device created by the pre-Crisis Brainiac 5. That device had been destroyed several weeks before by a version of Aquagirl, while versions of Nightwing and the Huntress kidnapped the Psycho-Pirate, the only person who could tell him when something was wrong with the new universe he had created. It was then that the Time-Guardian realized that he had enemies on his own world.
"For several weeks now the world has been witness as the forces of order under my command, the Legion of Doom, have sought out the super-powered terrorists that were instrumental in the deaths of so many beloved heroes. In this endeavor, we have been unsuccessful, despite the very best efforts of Alexi Luthor." The redheaded scientist, standing a respectful distance behind the speaker, nodded his head towards the camera. "It was these terrorists that made villains out of the original membership of the Legion, just as they eventually did with the Justice League. We have been very fortunate…"
"Why does he bother speaking to the people directly?" Roy Harper asked. Kid Flash, a Hypertime duplicate of him, shrugged and took a sip of his milkshake. Roy could not believe that there had actually been a universe out there where he had been granted the power of super-speed. It boggled the mind.
"He doesn't, but this is probably the only way he thinks he can get a message to us," Nightwing replied, not even bothering to turn away from the television. "We've been a thorn in his side; he can probably leave anytime he wants, but he wants revenge."
"Do you think he knows about me?" Roy asked.
"I doubt he had any clue about the Limbo Wars," the Dark Flash said, referring to the events involving Mon-El. "He's been out of the limelight for sometime, but so have a few other key members of the Legion."
"Such as?" Hawkman asked.
"We had no idea that Alexi Luthor was on his side and Vandal Savage is missing as well," the Huntress began, recalling the data she had put together from various news reports. "There is also a rumor that the Legion has a Kryptonian named Shyla, but we've never seen her."
"If she the same Shyla I knew as a younger man, I can't believe she would be involved in something like this," Nightwing added.
"There's been a purging of the Legion as well from what I understand. Some of the members thought to try and topple Speedy but failed," Aquagirl said. "The most recent public gathering of the Legion included a lot of new faces."
"Which adds further credence to my theory that this world exists within a nexus point," Nightwing began to explain. This time, he turned to face his team. "This universe is a filter or sorts, scooping out various entities from Hypertime…"
"And so more people are showing up," Deadman finished. "Only it's slowing down in frequency."
Roy looked back to the obese body Deadman's spirit inhabited. "I wonder…could any heroes be coming in as well?"
"I've thought of that myself, Roy," Nightwing said. "The Legion knows where the arrival point is at, but I'm willing to be someone else knows too."
"The Psycho-Pirate?" the Flying Fox asked. "You said he was the one who helped the Time-Guardian create this world from his memories of Earth-1."
"That's right," the team leader explained as he adjusted the sound on the television. "Let's watch because this is getting interesting."
The Time-Guardian stared straight into the camera. "If the so-called heroes that oppose me do not surrender themselves within 24 hours, I will order the Legion of Doom to level the city of San Francisco."
The hurriedly assembled members of the Wardens looked nervous, Nightwing thought as he examined each one of them.
Huntress, the daughter of the Earth-2 Batman and Catwoman: she was not only a great tactical commander, but was now his lover.
Flying Fox, sixteen-year-old Bruce Wayne of Earth-1: a version of the Batman that no longer had a place in the universe.
Robin, Jason Todd of Earth-1: a hero who knows he is destined to die if he remains in costume.
Dark Flash, Walter West, a traveler through Hypertime: the vice-chairman of the team and perhaps the one closest to that thin line between good and evil.
Kid Flash, the Roy Harper of the last universe destroyed by the Time-Guardian: he seeks not just revenge, but the hope of a new life with Aquagirl.
Aquagirl, Tula of Earth-1: she was quickly becoming the glue that was holding the team together with her never give up attitude.
Hawkman, Katar Hol of Thanagar, just one of several Hypertime versions of the Winged Wonder that came into being when the original was the center of a time flux.
Dawnstar, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes of the 30th century Earth-1: a young woman now lost in time and space, looking for a way to do some good.
Deadman, Boston Brand of the Prime Universe: a spirit on a secret mission for Heaven.
Himself, Nightwing, the Kryptonian super-hero of Earth-1, a relation to Superman: a scientist in way over his head despite his powers.
Then he thought of the members they had lost: Cinnamon, Detective Chimp and Batwoman and he realized that now was not the time for melancholy. There was a dangerous man out there not only wanting to kill them for ruining his dreams, but was willing to destroy millions of lives to do it.
The threat by the Time-Guardian was real enough; time and again he had proven his willingness to kill. Nightwing noted that Roy Harper, who had felt so out of place the past few weeks on this parallel world, was now in a fit of rage. To him, threatening to kill so many innocent lives brought up uncomfortable feelings.
They had spoken briefly, but Nightwing had noted that Roy had naturally gravitated towards Kid Flash and Aquagirl. From them he had learned that Roy was desperate to find his daughter, but that he understood that until the threat of the Time-Guardian was eliminated, then they would never be truly safe.
He had also spoken about his fears that the Time-Guardian represented a side to Roy that perhaps he kept buried. Of course, Kid Flash laughed at it, but then Roy explained his love for the criminal terrorist Chesire and how she used a nuclear device to kill millions in the Prime Universe. "Could it be her dark side that attracted me initially?" he asked.
Nightwing did not know the answer to that question, but he felt as if he were on the verge of so many others. When word came to him that Shyla might be part of the Legion of Doom, it began to explain several things. Most important, it told him that they might have a potential ally in the enemy camp.
When Nightwing and the Huntress had gone to rescue the Psycho-Pirate from the Justice League, someone used super-ventriloquism to warn them of an impending attack. At the time, Nightwing could not investigate it, but now he was considering the possibilities.
There were others things as well that were going through his mind, but they would have to wait until a later date.
"We have a three fold problem here. I believe, however, that it can be solved completely by pursuing only one aspect," Nightwing began.
"Smashing those little greedy bastards and flinging their bowels to the four winds!" Hawkman chanted. Dawnstar, seated next to him, rolled her eyes to the ceiling. Hawkman and her had been casually flirting since they arrived on-planet.
"That's not what I was thinking, but I will keep it in mind," Nightwing said as he cast a glance to the Dark Flash. The Scarlet Speedster shrugged and Nightwing assumed it meant he was probably thinking the same thing. It was, he supposed, necessary to maintain proper balance in the group to have such hawkish (no pun intended) individuals as part of the team.
Nightwing had considered using a Phantom Zone projector to simply imprison all of the Legion members, but recent events had dashed those hopes.
"He's talking about Shyla," Huntress said, putting the matter to rest. "If she is the one who helped us with the Psycho-Pirate, then she may be willing to betray the Time-Guardian."
"A second Kryptonian would be really cool," Aquagirl chimed in.
"Not just 'cool', young lady," Nightwing responded, "but make us unbeatable in the eyes of many of the Legion members. Criminals are a cowardly lot…"
"Yes! If they see we are more powerful, then they might surrender," the Flying Fox said in an excited voice.
"Get serious!" Robin exclaimed, shaking his head. "God, I can't believe you were ever that stupid! Is that why you chose the bat motif, because you think criminals are cowards?"
"They won't willingly put themselves into harm's way for the Time-Guardian!" Kid Flash argued.
"They don't have a choice!" Robin retorted and then he stood up. Smacking a hand on the table, he quieted all of the other arguments. "This is not a simple bank robbery; these villains know that if they lose, there is the potential this world could go bye-bye. We all know it. We have no idea what will happen to this place if the Time-Guardian is vanquished!"
"The Time-Trapper said…"
Dawnstar cut the Huntress off this time. "You are quite foolish if you believe the Time-Trapper will uphold his end of the bargain!"
Nightwing held his hands up for silence. "People! This has never been about saving our lives; this has been about saving the universe. If my theories are correct, then everything that the Time-Guardian has been doing has weakened the bonds of Hypertime. He must not only be stopped, but he must be stopped now. If he tries to take Roy's spot in the Prime Universe, I think it will cause an implosion!"
"He already tried that and failed," Roy pointed out.
"Ah, but he won't be able to do the same thing again! You see, time has restarted, only there is no Roy Harper yet in the Prime Universe…"
"So, the correct piece has to be put back into the puzzle," the Dark Flash asked.
"My head hurts! I need a beer," Hawkman said, getting up.
"Sit down, Katar, please," Nightwing pleaded. Hawkman shrugged and plopped back into his seat. "The Time-Guardian must be stopped, we all realize this, and Roy must be put back into his universe and soon. If we send him back now, the Time-Guardian will just come after him and plus," he looked over to the sullen Roy, "we need to find out what happened to his daughter."
"Roy is a significant player in the Prime Universe," Aquagirl pointed out. "What has happened there because of his absence?"
"Obviously the world is still there, but the exact ramifications are unknown."
"So, what about San Francisco?" the Huntress asked.
"The Dark Flash, Aquagirl and I will surrender ourselves to the Legion of Doom," Nightwing said. "That may throw them off your trail for awhile as you try to contact Shyla. If she can be turned, then we'll have a chance against the Legion."
"Maybe," Kid Flash said, rubbing his chin. "We don't know the whole of the Legion make-up, though."
"I've got that," the Huntress said proudly and then she elbowed the Flying Fox. "I should say that 'dad' here got it. He seems to be a natural using the internet."
The young Bruce Wayne stood up and pulled out a computer printout. "Some of this is speculation based upon reports of sightings and the amassed knowledge of everyone in this room. We know about the Time-Guardian and Alexi Luthor, but there is also the Master Jailer and Vandal Savage, though it is believed that Savage has quietly left the group."
"He never was much of a joiner," Roy commented.
Shyla floated above the mansion and listened in with her super-hearing, a thousand thoughts going through her confused mind. The detector she had created in secret had led her to Nightwing, a fellow Kryptonian; secretly she had hoped to find a mate but the sounds she had picked up from the bedroom of the Huntress the night before told her that was only fantasy.
Though saddened, she was still heartened to hear that the heroes did not consider her a total wash. She was not actually a criminal, simply a misguided scientist who let her passions carry her too far.
On Krypton, she had hoped to become a scientist of renown even greater than that of Jor-El, but her actions led to the accidental death of an innocent man. She was placed in the Phantom Zone for a year as punishment, but before her sentence was up, her world exploded.
A freak lightning storm had allowed her to pass from the Phantom Zone into the world of Earth-1 where she began a foolish career as a criminal. Thankfully, Supergirl had defeated her and sent her back into the Phantom Zone.
The Time-Guardian had rescued her from there several years after the Crisis and had taken her as his lover. Though he was only sixteen in body, his mind was ancient and the secrets it held aroused her intellect as well as her body. She had become his love-slave and his weapon of choice whenever some member of the Legion of Doom got out of line. That all changed when Donna entered the picture.
Yes, it was hard not admit that Donna Troy, Wonder Girl, was not only attractive, but also easy to fall in love with. Shyla watched as several of the heroes of this created world fawned over her in an effort just to get a smile from her. Yes, Shyla could take being replaced, but she could not take being alone. She missed her world and had sought out Nightwing as a last desperate chance to hold onto a life that was long gone.
It had failed.
A part of her told her to report her findings to the Time-Guardian; surely he would reward her with Nightwing as her own after Alexi used his devices to train the hero's mind. She didn't want that, though; it would only be fake happiness. There was only one course for her and it was not to link up with these heroes. If she did, then she would forever have to look upon the man who could have been her soul mate.
The only true answer for her problems was death.
She floated in space, casually wondering if the expanse of this universe was as infinite as the Prime Universe. Did pocket universes have boundaries? If so, who decided them? Could they be expanded? The scientist in her never rested even if the romantic was slowly dying.
The rift was nearly repaired which was a considerable feat if one thought about it. The rift actually existed in all timelines in the same place, but it could only be repaired from Limbo. For the most part, it was closed; no unauthorized entry or exit would take place. What was going on now was the careful mending of the structures surrounding it. Shyla saw several Green Lanterns hard at work on the other side.
She used her super-ventriloquism to speak to them and they, in turn, had to do nothing but use their wills and their rings to speak back. "I am Shyla, former prisoner of the Phantom Zone that is shrinking. I wish entry."
One of the Lanterns shook his head. "If I open this up, then I'll be here for weeks fixing it! Besides, I don't have the authority, only the head of the Order can allow such a thing!"
She pointed at him. "Then go get him before I start trying to force my way in!"
Hal Jordan waved his guards away. He felt no fear of this woman. "I am Hal Jordan, Green Lantern and head of the Order, the guardians of Limbo. Who are you?"
She gave him the same introduction and demands. He did not immediately refuse her. "Why would you want to come back? Your Phantom Zone is shrinking. In seven standard years, it will have been consumed by the new. You will die."
"I have nothing to live for," she relied flatly.
"We all have something to live for," he reasoned. "I am the Hal Jordan that would have been had the real one not gone insane. I would have grown in power and prestige until I led the Green Lantern Corps myself. Instead, I became like a god and tried to remake the universe and my true self is now an avenging angel of God."
"And?"
"And many times," he said, his eyes suddenly glassy, "I have to wonder what it would have been like if I could have just stayed sane. Would I have married my true love, Carol? What things might I have accomplished and it is in those desires and wishes that I too found depression. But I don't end my life; instead I have found a purpose."
She started to laugh at the absurdity. "And pray tell, good Green Lantern, what the hell am I supposed to do? I am lonely…"
"Must you have a mate to be complete?"
"You were just pining for your lost love," she snapped back. "I have been alone forever!"
"Whose fault is that, Shyla of Krypton? Your story is not unknown here because we have interviewed several of your fellow prisoners, seeing if they are worthy of pardon." He floated a little closer to the rift. "You have brought all of your troubles onto yourself through your arrogance."
"Arrogance? Arrogant is someone who floats around deeming who is worthy of life and who isn't! You are as bad as the Guardians you once served," she screamed.
"Perhaps I am arrogant, but at least I am not being a spoiled child."
She blinked. "What?"
"You have a second chance, Shyla, something that I don't, but I am making the best of a bad situation. You wish to just crawl in here and die," the rift opened through the sheer force of his will. "Go ahead, I don't care."
She started to move, but then he held up a finger. "You wish to have a man to make your life complete, yet it is you who leaves it incomplete because you have never done anything except try to please yourself. That guilt is eating at you Shyla! There is much that world down there could use from a Supergirl."
"Supergirl?" she asked, puzzled. "I can't join the heroes! I will be reminded…"
"Of the bad things you've done? I know that feeling, Shyla, and dying does not make the pain go away. Only acts of good and compassion can take care of that." He then pointed down at the world of Earth-T. "A new world, a new universe…a new life…"
She looked down at the spinning globe and shook her head. She wanted to deny the truth. "I can't be Supergirl!"
"Then who will be?" he asked matter-of-factly.
"I have something for you, Kryptonian," the Master Jailer said as he threw a green kryptonite rock at the imprisoned Nightwing. It struck the hero upside the head and he went down again.
Several of the villains laughed, especially the wild-eyed Wendy, now clad in a Wonder Woman costume. Of course, she said it stood for "Wonder Wendy". "Hit him again! Make the blood ooze out…oh, I love it when it oozes!" she purred.
The Master Jailer turned to Alexi who merely gave a weak smile. This newest addition to their group made them feel very uncomfortable. Everything she said had some sexual innuendo to it. "Why don't we just let him lay there until the boss gets here?" the Jailer asked. "He's bringing the rest of the team to see the execution."
Alexi looked over to the giant glass cylinder that held the Dark Flash in suspended animation. He had hoped to study the speedster, but the Time-Guardian had been insistent on execution. The boon was that the agreement was that the Guardian would leave this world forever and it would be left for Alexi Luthor, if he had his way, to rule!
"You know, I really like you," Wonder Wendy cooed to the trapped Aquagirl. She was suspended upside down from the ceiling.
Aquagirl shivered at the thought of the other woman touching her, but it did no good. Wendy ran a hand over her prisoner's leg. "What will you do for some water?"
The hero gave a response that was unflattering. Wendy laughed. "If I could, I wouldn't need men!"
The Time-Guardian entered the room then, followed by the rest of the membership of the Legion of Doom. Next to him was a pregnant Wonder Girl. "Let's get this over with," he announced. Several of the villains laughed and cheered.
"Donna?" he asked, waiting for his wife to turn to him. When she did, the monster known only as the Grundy stepped behind her and twisted her head to the side. There was a cracking sound and then she dropped.
Shimmering blue energy moved from her swollen belly towards the Time-Guardian's outstretched hand. "No little bastard is going to steal my powers!" he proclaimed.
He looked up to the sky and laughed, not noticing a small tendril, born out of a defensive reflex action on the part of the dying child, moved away from the hand and dove deep into the ground. The tendril did not stop, but instead bore through the Earth and rocketed into space towards a singular point that could only be reached by hopping from hypersting to hyperstring.
The red-haired man had been meditating for several hours when the tendril drove into his skull. He put a hand up and was visibly shaken by the attack. His blue eyes opened suddenly and he realized that he was needed. Again.