TITLE: Elseworlds-Power
AUTHOR: William Rayne
EMAIL:
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: none
DISTRIBUTION: , email me
DISCLAIMER someone else owns 'em, I'm just taking them out to play. Don't sue me, I have no money
FEEDBACK: Desired like none other.
NOTES AND NEWS: As always: bold italics for stressed, italics for thoughts or voice-over, and underlines for sarcasm or disgust.
This is a huge work in progress, so expect possible revisions to previous chapters. Been busy with school, so haven't had a chance to write much.
Thanks to DuMont for the beta'ing.
92
Chapter 8
Metropolis, January 7, 2002
The ninja landed on the balcony of a penthouse suite and strode into the doors that lead into the bedroom. As the ninja walked past the bed, the metal mask fell on the bed, and a stain of blood dropped onto the red satin sheets unnoticed. Touching a panel underneath the vanity, the ninja pulled out a cell phone and hit send. When the other end answered, the metallic voice stated simply, "The package has been delivered. The debt is repaid."
"On the contrary, my dear, the debt will be paid when the matter is fully settled. One way or another," replied a harsh voice on the other end of the line.
"I am not an assassin. You would do well to remember what I am and who my people are. You and yours assisted us long ago. Now you presume to order us like your trained lapdogs?"
"I presume nothing. Would you shame your clan further by not fulfilling your charge? It is the action or lack of action that must be done, not the message. Actions speak louder than words. The Luthors hold the key to your release from the charge."
"You walk the dagger's edge, Temple. We will see how your message is received but know this: we will assist you in this matter however the blood of an innocent will not become the price we pay for our obligation to you."
Temple replies, "That, dear child, is entirely up to the Luthors. If Lionel fails to heed the message, an example will be shown. There are many ways to lose a child without resorting to murder."
The line went dead as Temple hung up, leaving his words hanging in the mind of the ninja. Frustrated, her hand shot up, grabbed and tore the voice modulator from her suit. Seething, she crushed it and hurled it against the wall while letting out the scream of the warrior she was trained to be. Suddenly she is overcome with a devastating cough and she wiped the blood that dripped from her mouth. He managed to injure me, how is that possible. I'll need to heal for a while. If I don't, I'll be dead in a matter of minutes.
Striding towards the bookcase, she slid out Nietzsche's Will to Power and the bookcase swung in to reveal a room with what can only be described as a black metal sarcophagus and a mirror off to the left. The lid of the coffin-like structure slid effortlessly as she depressed an unnoticeable button. Inside there was a breathing mask similar to that seen in fighter jets as well as a liquid. Sliding yet another hidden panel near the head of the casket, she programmed in 3:00. That ought to be enough time. Slipping off all her garments except an odd set of tight-fitting silver bracelets with markings that seem like alien hieroglyphics, she slipped into the metal coffin, donning the mask and lay still. As the lid slid over and she closed her eyes to rest, Marie Douglas of the Hasigawa Clan cursed her grandfather for putting her in this situation.
Metropolis, April 25, 1984
Tsutomu Tanaka of the Hasigawa Clan did not approve of his daughter's marriage to the gaijin, William Douglas, but knew that he could do nothing to dissuade the rightful Heir of the Legacy of the Ancient Ones from her wishes. He could only hope and pray that the gaijin sire a daughter as strong as his own as well as respect the Way, Path and Tradition of the Warrior that his daughter and future grandchild would follow, just like he and his mother before him had followed. Oh revered Mother, may my choices and sacrifices not be in vain, he thought as recalled the deal with the devil he made to protect his family in coming to this country.
Osaka, Japan, 1959
No one heard about it in the news and history will not have it saved for future generations, but if you were or are a member of the Hasigawa Clan, 1959 was a time of brutal war against a once trusted ally. It is referred to as 'The Great Exile' by future generations after only a century in America. Compared to the time the clan spent in Japan, a century is a blink of an eye for long before there was history, there was the Hasigawa Clan.
Every member, Heir or not, knew the history of the clan for they know the history of the Legacy and those are irrevocably tied to one another. In a time before record, what would become know as the Hasigawa and Shoji Clans warred against preternatural and human forces alike and were losing until the gods that were known as Eru Clan approached the two Clans. The power the gods possessed was great and the three gods Gaeru, Rushi and Zadu where more than enough to turn the tide of darkness. However, the gods of Eru said that the time had come for them to leave the mortal plane and transcend to the sky. The leaders of all three clans asked, "But what of humanity? How are we, mortal men and women, to survive without your help? How are we to survive in this realm?"
The gods responded by turning to the leader of Hasigawa Clan and said, "Kaeru Hasigawa, in our time here, you alone have demonstrated power tempered with mercy, strength tempered by humility, and courage tempered by wisdom. You are fit to possess these." Then they bestowed upon Kaeru Hasigawa and mankind what would become known as the Legacy. "They shall grant you our powers as long as you continue to possess these qualities. You can choose to wield such power until our return or you may choose to leave it to one you deem worthy as successor."
For almost three centuries, Kaeru possessed the power of the gods themselves and he defended the mortal realm in the name of truth, honor and justice. He also learned, that with such power comes a price and he tired of remaining eternally young while he watch those he protected and loved wither away into old age. So among his descendants, he searched for a worthy successor and found it in Miaka Yasukawa. It was when the Legacy was passed that the second price was learned for it is said the second it was passed, humanity caught up to the Kaeru and he faded into the dust he should have been long ago. It has since been learned that only a few minutes after removing the Legacy does the wearer revert to being human with all of its frailties. It has also been learned that the women of the clan yield more power when it comes to the Legacy than any of the men of the clan. With that knowledge, the women of the clan have obtained the respect and honor contrary to traditional cultural customs.
"Go, now, Tsutomu!" his mother ordered, "Take the Legacy and flee. You are the rightful Heir, go and protect this world as is the wishes of Ancient Ones."
"But Mother," he replied, "Perhaps I can wield…"
"Never suggest such shame again, Tsutomu," his mother snapped at him, "It is better that every member of our clan die this night than for the Legacy be used for personal gain. Humanity needs a champion, not our clan…a single champion and you are the chosen of this generation. Flee, my son and live another day to give me grandchildren and to see your own as well."
Tsutomu nodded as his mother kissed his forehead and shoved him out of the door. For two years he ran, not knowing where to flee to but knowing that he must. It was the desperation to get as far away as possible that he made the deal with Sam Temple that his granddaughter would curse him for. In exchange for a future favor, Sam would take Tsutomu and his future wife to America, provide them a new identity and set them up in Coast City, California. In 1962, after a tip from a surviving member of the clan, he moved to Metropolis, Delaware where the family has since stayed.
Metropolis, January 7, 2002
As Marie rose from the regeneration chamber, she was thankful that her mother married into love and money so that Marie would have some enjoyment in her life as Heir. She thought fondly of her last memories of her mother. It was a few days before the meteor shower in Smallville, her mother claimed to have had a vision. In the vision, she said, the Ancient Ones said that one of them would return soon in the midst of fire from the sky. Grandfather and Mother argued about the meaning of the vision and then the meteor shower hit. Mother decided to see if there was any truth to the rest of the vision. Before leaving, she told her daughter, "Marie, dear, mommy is going away on a business trip. I'll be back in a few days and I'm sorry I'll miss your first few days of training. Remember you're now Heir to the Legacy and must behave accordingly."
The last either of them heard from her pertained to some strange caves that seemed to tell of the same ancient legend their clan has kept for millennia and that also seemed to contain the same symbols as that of the Legacy. Her mother's body would be found a few days later, miles outside of the town. Marie desperately wanted to avenge her mother, but her grandfather held her back saying it wasn't time yet. It wouldn't be until next year that she would learn what he meant by that. She stepped out of the coffin-like device. At her touch, the sequence of hieroglyphs she pressed lit up and the bracelets widened and shrunk to assume the shape of normal bracelets. She slipped them off and let them clatter to the floor. Binding up her shoulder-length auburn hair, she regarded herself in the mirror and squinted. Damn, wearing off already, she thought as she grabbed her Lisa Loeb type glasses. That's better.
The world now in focus, she went out of the room into her bedroom and closed the bookcase behind her. As she gathered up the remnants of earlier events, she noticed that the machine was blinking. Her father's voice came from the machine and said, "Marie dear, I do hope that your day wasn't too stressful."
"No it wasn't daddy," she replied to the recorded voice.
"If you're not too tired, I do hope you remember Friday evening's gala."
"Do I have to go?" she said with a girlish pout.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to but I could really use your support in these dreadful soirées."
"Oh fine. I'll go, but I'm going to cut out early if I don't like it."
The machine beeped and she proceeded to call back her dad while mentally composing her actual response. As she called, she pondered what would happen next in her life and hoped that the Luthors wouldn't be at the Gala even though she knew they would. That'll be interesting, she thought even though she knew that Clark would have no idea that she was the reason he would be wearing a cast at the gala. Silly boy probably thinks he was beat by a guy too. All those Luthors are chauvinistic. She sighed as she got her father's voicemail and left a message that said she'd accompany him to the event.