Slow Burn 2
Chapter 3
"So I was in Gotham on business - a freelance gig doing work on the new Turtle Boy comic - when I saw the whole thing happen."
"I was walking from Jenny's apartment - she's my girlfriend - to the restaurant where I was meeting the writers, when the building I was next to exploded. Not in flames and smoke, you know, but like something inside had just torn the place down. The force knocked me into a car, and I think I blacked out. The next thing I know, I see this creature standing in the middle of where the building used to be, holding Green Lantern - well, you know - Abin Sur, by his head. I heard a horrible crunch, and the creature threw Abin Sur right at me."
"Someone screamed - not a scream like in a werewolf movie, or like in that TV show Wendy the Werewolf Slayer - but a bellow. I saw the Flash, Superman, and Martian Manhunter approaching from the other side of the block. That was all I really saw clearly. At the time, everything was a blur - those guys move fast! - but now, I can almost slow it down in my mind and see the entire scene. I didn't know I could do that."
"The whole thing was over in about 30 seconds, I think. The Flash charged this creature - I know his name is Doomsday now - and pounded him with what must have a thousand shots. Doomsday staggered a little bit, and responded with such speed that I couldn't believe it. The two began moving around the block so fast that all I could see were afterimages - red and yellow flashes of light and dark. Then there was a bright flash of light - like those things the Special Forces use to disorient terrorists - and by the time I could see anything again, Doomsday had pounded the Flash into a wall. Flash's costume was really torn up, and he was bleeding, but he was still breathing. I've never seen the Flash get taken down that fast. You know, I never saw any of the Justice League in person until today, but I watched on TV when he stopped that crazy guy who was driving around, trying to bore holes to the center of the earth - what did he call himself? Imperior? Imperiex? something - and he seemed invincible. I never thought someone could do that to him."
"Anyways, I think this confused the Martian Manhunter and Superman, too. They seemed to look at each other for a second - I guess maybe they were communicating - the Martian guy is psychic, isn't he? - and then they charged simultaneously. Two things happened: First, a ball of green flame shot from Doomsday and encircled the Manhunter. It squeezed in on him, and I could see his body start forming and reforming. He looked like he was in the worst pain of his life, and there was nothing I could do. The flames seemed alive - almost hungry - and they didn't burn anything else around them. They drove MM - can I call him that? - to a fetal position, and just pulsed, hovering over him. I don't know what happened after that, because there was the other explosion."
"You see, it was just down to the two of them. As Doomsday was taking care of MM, Superman chose a different method. He walked towards the monster, compassion echoing in his voice. 'Who are you? How can we help you? What do you want?'"
"'ANTI-LIFE,' Doomsday snarled, "DOOMSDAY ANTI-LIFE EARTH APOKOLIPS.'"
"'Doomsday? I don't want to hurt you, but you must stand down now. Do you understand?' Superman walked closer to the creature with his hand outstretched. Whether it was my imagination or my senses were working overtime, I could see sweat glistening on his forehead. It looked like it was working, though. Doomsday let Superman get within arm's reach. 'We will help you if we can, but I don't want to hurt you.'"
"'Will you submit?' Superman asked as he grasped Doomsday's upper arm. In response, Doomsday slowly reached out, and with a solitary finger, touched Superman's shoulder. I don't know what he did, but that touch caused this massive explosion, and I heard windows shatter all around me. When the dust cleared, they were still standing, but Superman's costume was torn, and he was bleeding from his head and his chest. With a lightning fast movement, Doomsday's arms stretched out - like Silly Putty or something - and embraced Superman. Superman struggled ferociously, even flying up trying to get away, but Doomsday was able to hold him easily. I could see power flowing between the two - it was like Doomsday was extracting Superman's essence or something. I know now that Superman thrives on solar radiation, so maybe he was absorbing his energy. All I knew then was that when they were done, Superman was left on the ground, barely alive."
"This is where it gets even more interesting. I was expecting Doomsday to kill me. I had already given up any hope of living. However, he ignored me completely, choosing instead to rove from body to body, collecting them in one location. I could see the Martian Manhunter, Superman, the Flash, Batman, and some boy in a red and yellow costume as well. He ignored Abin Sur and myself completely, along with the other bodies strewn throughout the area."
"He inspected each of them, over and over again, and finally just screamed out in anger or frustration, I'm not sure which. Finally, he raised his arm, still clad in his yellow and red armor, and a large BOOM echoed throughout the area. One by one, he threw the five bodies into the portal that had opened up, and walked into it himself. The portal closed, and I was left there with all of that death and destruction."
"Just then, Abin Sur started making small noises that I could barely hear. I ran to him and sat down next to him. He grabbed me with a surprisingly tight grip. 'Ring . . . worthy bearer . . . brightest day . . . blackest night.' The ring on his finger glowed, and I heard his breathing stop. His body seemed to stretch and shrink at the same time, and swirled into the ring like - I don't know what it was like. Before I realized it, all that was left was his ring in the palm of my hand."
"So, I put it on and asked it to take me to you, which is why I'm here now!" The young man, wearing a denim jacket with a t-shirt that had a green symbol of a ring on it, and brown, scuffed workboots, stood uncomfortably in the Justice League anteroom on the moon. He had flown up under his own power, and was now being subject to intense questioning by Wonder Woman and the Atom.
"Mr. Rayner," Diana began.
"Please, call me Kyle."
"Fine. Kyle, I appreciate your patience in dealing with our incredulity and questioning. My Golden Lasso was taken from Gaea's girdle and will not allow anything but truth from the mouths of those within its grasp. We believe you. Now please, tell us, does your ring have any further information for us?" Diana released Kyle from the lasso and attached it back under her robe.
"No, Ms. . . ummm . . . Wonder . . . Ms. Woman," Kyle stammered. "The only thing I can tell you is that I feel compelled to go to Apokolips. I think your friends will need my help. Believe me, I'd give you the ring so that you could go, but I know . . . somehow . . . that it will only work for me."
APOKOLIPS
The heroes awakened slowly in a darkened chamber. Restraints bonded their heads, chests, arms and legs to the wall. Even the strongest of them found it futile to struggle, Desaad thought. "Welcome to Apokolips, heroes," he rasped, "Your stay here will be painful and agonizing, until we have what we want, after which you will live on in blissful ignorance. Enjoy your stay."
Chapter 3
"So I was in Gotham on business - a freelance gig doing work on the new Turtle Boy comic - when I saw the whole thing happen."
"I was walking from Jenny's apartment - she's my girlfriend - to the restaurant where I was meeting the writers, when the building I was next to exploded. Not in flames and smoke, you know, but like something inside had just torn the place down. The force knocked me into a car, and I think I blacked out. The next thing I know, I see this creature standing in the middle of where the building used to be, holding Green Lantern - well, you know - Abin Sur, by his head. I heard a horrible crunch, and the creature threw Abin Sur right at me."
"Someone screamed - not a scream like in a werewolf movie, or like in that TV show Wendy the Werewolf Slayer - but a bellow. I saw the Flash, Superman, and Martian Manhunter approaching from the other side of the block. That was all I really saw clearly. At the time, everything was a blur - those guys move fast! - but now, I can almost slow it down in my mind and see the entire scene. I didn't know I could do that."
"The whole thing was over in about 30 seconds, I think. The Flash charged this creature - I know his name is Doomsday now - and pounded him with what must have a thousand shots. Doomsday staggered a little bit, and responded with such speed that I couldn't believe it. The two began moving around the block so fast that all I could see were afterimages - red and yellow flashes of light and dark. Then there was a bright flash of light - like those things the Special Forces use to disorient terrorists - and by the time I could see anything again, Doomsday had pounded the Flash into a wall. Flash's costume was really torn up, and he was bleeding, but he was still breathing. I've never seen the Flash get taken down that fast. You know, I never saw any of the Justice League in person until today, but I watched on TV when he stopped that crazy guy who was driving around, trying to bore holes to the center of the earth - what did he call himself? Imperior? Imperiex? something - and he seemed invincible. I never thought someone could do that to him."
"Anyways, I think this confused the Martian Manhunter and Superman, too. They seemed to look at each other for a second - I guess maybe they were communicating - the Martian guy is psychic, isn't he? - and then they charged simultaneously. Two things happened: First, a ball of green flame shot from Doomsday and encircled the Manhunter. It squeezed in on him, and I could see his body start forming and reforming. He looked like he was in the worst pain of his life, and there was nothing I could do. The flames seemed alive - almost hungry - and they didn't burn anything else around them. They drove MM - can I call him that? - to a fetal position, and just pulsed, hovering over him. I don't know what happened after that, because there was the other explosion."
"You see, it was just down to the two of them. As Doomsday was taking care of MM, Superman chose a different method. He walked towards the monster, compassion echoing in his voice. 'Who are you? How can we help you? What do you want?'"
"'ANTI-LIFE,' Doomsday snarled, "DOOMSDAY ANTI-LIFE EARTH APOKOLIPS.'"
"'Doomsday? I don't want to hurt you, but you must stand down now. Do you understand?' Superman walked closer to the creature with his hand outstretched. Whether it was my imagination or my senses were working overtime, I could see sweat glistening on his forehead. It looked like it was working, though. Doomsday let Superman get within arm's reach. 'We will help you if we can, but I don't want to hurt you.'"
"'Will you submit?' Superman asked as he grasped Doomsday's upper arm. In response, Doomsday slowly reached out, and with a solitary finger, touched Superman's shoulder. I don't know what he did, but that touch caused this massive explosion, and I heard windows shatter all around me. When the dust cleared, they were still standing, but Superman's costume was torn, and he was bleeding from his head and his chest. With a lightning fast movement, Doomsday's arms stretched out - like Silly Putty or something - and embraced Superman. Superman struggled ferociously, even flying up trying to get away, but Doomsday was able to hold him easily. I could see power flowing between the two - it was like Doomsday was extracting Superman's essence or something. I know now that Superman thrives on solar radiation, so maybe he was absorbing his energy. All I knew then was that when they were done, Superman was left on the ground, barely alive."
"This is where it gets even more interesting. I was expecting Doomsday to kill me. I had already given up any hope of living. However, he ignored me completely, choosing instead to rove from body to body, collecting them in one location. I could see the Martian Manhunter, Superman, the Flash, Batman, and some boy in a red and yellow costume as well. He ignored Abin Sur and myself completely, along with the other bodies strewn throughout the area."
"He inspected each of them, over and over again, and finally just screamed out in anger or frustration, I'm not sure which. Finally, he raised his arm, still clad in his yellow and red armor, and a large BOOM echoed throughout the area. One by one, he threw the five bodies into the portal that had opened up, and walked into it himself. The portal closed, and I was left there with all of that death and destruction."
"Just then, Abin Sur started making small noises that I could barely hear. I ran to him and sat down next to him. He grabbed me with a surprisingly tight grip. 'Ring . . . worthy bearer . . . brightest day . . . blackest night.' The ring on his finger glowed, and I heard his breathing stop. His body seemed to stretch and shrink at the same time, and swirled into the ring like - I don't know what it was like. Before I realized it, all that was left was his ring in the palm of my hand."
"So, I put it on and asked it to take me to you, which is why I'm here now!" The young man, wearing a denim jacket with a t-shirt that had a green symbol of a ring on it, and brown, scuffed workboots, stood uncomfortably in the Justice League anteroom on the moon. He had flown up under his own power, and was now being subject to intense questioning by Wonder Woman and the Atom.
"Mr. Rayner," Diana began.
"Please, call me Kyle."
"Fine. Kyle, I appreciate your patience in dealing with our incredulity and questioning. My Golden Lasso was taken from Gaea's girdle and will not allow anything but truth from the mouths of those within its grasp. We believe you. Now please, tell us, does your ring have any further information for us?" Diana released Kyle from the lasso and attached it back under her robe.
"No, Ms. . . ummm . . . Wonder . . . Ms. Woman," Kyle stammered. "The only thing I can tell you is that I feel compelled to go to Apokolips. I think your friends will need my help. Believe me, I'd give you the ring so that you could go, but I know . . . somehow . . . that it will only work for me."
APOKOLIPS
The heroes awakened slowly in a darkened chamber. Restraints bonded their heads, chests, arms and legs to the wall. Even the strongest of them found it futile to struggle, Desaad thought. "Welcome to Apokolips, heroes," he rasped, "Your stay here will be painful and agonizing, until we have what we want, after which you will live on in blissful ignorance. Enjoy your stay."
