The Epic of Gauntlet

Part 8

"Sins of the Father… And Mother… and just about everyone else, now that I think about it…"

By BobCat

Disclaimer: Let it never be said that I take credit for the work of others.  Bob Kane, Marv Wolfman and many others have created fine characters that are used to this day.  Gauntlet and his associated Rouges Gallery are not some of them.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION.

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            For nearly a square block, every building was condemned.  Fused metal and scorched brick showed that the scars from the last battle of Blackfire and Starfire. 

            When Starfire and Robert had arrived, they had decided quickly that it would be best to clear out a section of the debris into a vague circle, roughly 10 meters in radius.  Robert had shown odd initiative, volunteering to do all of the work, claiming that Starfire needed all of her energy for the battle.  She suspected it was an unconscious attempt to curry her favor, but decided to go along with it.

            At this point, Blackfire was ten minutes late and Starfire was growing more and more concerned, pacing back and forth.  Robert was, as usual, far more laid back, reading a newspaper he had purchased in a more intact section of the city.  Of course, he was using the Gauntlet to stick to the wall, and he was hanging upside down, but he still looked nonchalant. 

            "Where could she be?!"  Starfire bit her lower lip.  "I would not think that even SHE would be willing to violate of Turallum Nepton Somperam!  What if she was diverting us so she could attack Robin or someone else?" 

            Robert responded, "The city's changed a lot since the last time she was here.  The Tower was rebuilt, but it doesn't look any different.  Meanwhile, the nearby historical district was flattened by the Lord and has since become a shopping mall.  She's probably lost." 

Starfire blinked.  "How did you know that?  You've only been in town for a few weeks…"

Robert quipped, "I read the newspaper and watch all of the Town Hall meetings on TV.  It's great to learn,"

An anthropomorphic Bill, a pudgy conductor, a man with 6 fingers and toes and a woman wearing a patriotic outfit leapt out and yelled with Gauntlet,  "'Cause knowledge is power!"  Having said their catchphrase, they disappeared to the ethereal ether from which they came. 

Starfire blinked.  "And where did THEY come from?"

"Hell if I know."  He flipped the page.  "Huh.  Celery causes cancer.  Who knew?" 

            "Robert!  Be serious for a moment!"  She walked over, pulling down his paper, looking him right in the eye.  "She is capable of great evil, much as I wish it was otherwise.  If she is doing this to get us out of the way, it could be awful!"

            "Well, we can't do much more than wait."  He flipped past a few stories of scandal and random death, heading for the comics.  "If you leave and she shows up, she'll assume you left.  If I leave, you can't do the ritual right anyway, so you'll be back to square one."  He handed her half of the funnies section.  "Here, some light reading ought to help." 

            Starfire read for a few moments before speaking up.  "I read this comic yesterday.  Why does that cat kick that dog over and over again?"

            "Fans of the funny pages have been asking that for years.  The real question is how he stays syndicated."  Robert noticed that Starfire was still nervous, and rightly so.  "Say, here's a thought.  You know guys like the Flash, right?  Call in a favor and ask one of them to sweep the city for her."

            Starfire dropped the paper excitedly, whipping out a small cell phone.  "Good idea!  I will call Impulse."  She quickly typed in a number and put it to her ear.  It rang for several moments, her tension building.  Finally, she heard the speedster's familiar voice. 

            "Hello, Impulse here."

            "Impulse!  This is Starfire!  I am in need of your…"

            "I seem to not be there right now.  Well, since I go faster than light, I'm technically omnipresent, but still, I'm not aware of the call… damn, relativity is confusing.  Anywho, no need to leave a message, I'll be tracing the call in a nanosecond and should be there right about…"

            "Now."  Dressed in his red and white costume, Impulse zipped in behind a very surprised Starfire.  She yelped and leapt, taken utterly by surprise. 

            Robert looked up from his paper.  "Ah, so you're Impulse.  Nice to meet you." 

            Impulse grinned.  "Hey, Starfire.  Long time no see.  What's up?"  He yawned loudly.  "And why did it have to be at the ungodly our of whatever time before noon it is?"

            Starfire clutched her chest for a moment, gasping.  "Thank you for coming so fast, Bart." 

            "Hey, it's hard for me to get anywhere slow.  Who's this guy?"

            Robert rolled his paper under his right arm and flipped down from his perch.  "Name's Gauntlet, but most everyone calls me Robert.  I'm the newest Titan by a court order."

            Bart shook Gauntlet's outstretched hand.  "I'm Impulse, but any Titan can call me Bart."  He looked Gauntlet head to toe.  "Two questions.  One, why isn't Spider-Man suing you?  Two, why don't you have a costume?  I thought it was a union requirement or something."

            Gauntlet counted off on his fingers.  "Well, for the first one, he hardly holds the copyright on wall crawling.  Second, I never saw the need.  You don't have to keep a secret identity if you don't have one."

            Starfire stepped between the two.  "You two may talk later, but I need your help now, Bart.  My sister is missing in the city, and I need her here right now!"

            Bart queried, "And this sister of yours.  She looks like you, right?"

            "Except that her hair is black.  I am so worried!  Can you help me?"

            Bart walked back a few steps, preparing to make run-down of the city.  "Don't worry; I'll be back in a…"

            Robert guessed, "Flash?"

            Bart shrugged.  "I was going to say nanosecond, but hey, close enough."  He went out of focus for a fraction of a second before returning from his scan of the city.  By his side was a very surprised looking Blackfire.

            Komand'r glanced around.  "I… wha… where… Kori?  How did I get here?" 

            Starfire floated over, taking her position at one side of the lot.  "You're late.  I called for my friend Impulse to guide you here.  Where were you?"

            Blackfire also floated into position.  "This city's layout changed.  I couldn't find my way around from the air, so I took the bus.  The mass transit system leaves much to be desired."

            Gauntlet chuckled.  "Hey, Bart, wanna hang around?  This is gonna be a good one." 

            Bart shrugged.  "Sure.  Young Justice is being boring lately anyhow." 

            Ignoring the additional witness, Komand'r took a deep breathe, calling to memory a ritualized speech as ancient as civilization on Tamaran.  "Koriand'r, kham eh midden…"

            Gauntlet interrupted her.  "Um, your ritual witnesses don't speak alien!" 

            "You just ruined MONTHS of preparation, jerk."  Blackfire glared at Gauntlet for a moment, then trained her eyes back to her sister.  "But to satisfy the rules of Turallum Nepton Somperam, we'll say the Psangan na Turallum in English.  Just tell your little friends over there that interrupting again will nullify the rite.  And then, who knows what will happen?" 

            Starfire winced slightly.  The threat is obvious.  Even with Bart and Robert here, we couldn't take her down before she did some damage, and she knows it.  "Robert, I will have to ask you to stay silent until the rite is over.  Please?"

            Robert nodded.  After a moment, he took a pen from his right pocket and started scribbling in the margins of his newspaper.

            Both aliens ignored Gauntlet's actions.  Starfire let out a deep breathe as she summoned up her reserves of courage.  I've never felt this nervous before.  Every other time we fought, there was always a next time.  But this… this is the final battle.  And if she wins, I must forever acknowledge her as a superior warrior.  And I do not want that to happen... my pride as a warrior will not allow it!

            Gauntlet paused in his scribbling as the two began.  It had a songlike quality, beautiful despite its translation.  Bart was also entranced, his sleep deprived mind finally snapping into full awareness.*  The sisters alternated the speech, with Blackfire beginning.

"Kori of the house of And'r, I come before you now with the weight of my sins upon me. I, Komand'r, do freely admit that I was wrong in my actions, expecting not forgiveness but acceptance."

            "Yes. I, Koriand'r, do hereby state that I recognize your sins against me and against the house of And'r. Let it be said, though, that I too am guilty of sins against you and by extension the house of And'r."

             "We of the house of And'r can then agree that many sins have been committed on both sides of this conflict. To list them here would be to tear open old wounds, and we know the list by heart, making it unnecessary."

              "Yes. What is to be done, Komand'r?"

              "As is stated in the Law of Tamaran, the First Law as dictated by Poand'r, founder of Law and Justice on all Tamaran, we shall now engage in combat over this issue. We shall promise to forgive as well we can and to forget as well we can upon the outcome of this, the final battle between us."

               "For the unity of the House of And'r, what else is to be done? We shall need witnesses to this feud ending conflict to prove that it took place."

               "As the challenged, it is for you to choose witnesses."


              "As that is the law of Poand'r, I shall choose two witnesses from those present.  Although this is unusual, Poander's law states that it is legal.  I choose Bart of the house of Allen, and Robert of the house of Candide as my witnesses."


              "Let all present know that you have chosen two witnesses. Also as the challenged you have the right to select a place and time of combat.  This venue has already been selected, and is agreeable to all involved."
 
             "Yes, Kori of the House of And'r. So let us set aside out feuds for the betterment of the house as a whole."

"So let it be done."

"Almandeh."  

"Almandeh."

With the traditional statement of affirmation exchanged, the two blasted forward, eyes glowing.  When they slammed into each other, any and all nearby windows were shattered by the shockwave.

Gauntlet cursed as the newspaper was blown from his hands.  "Looks like I'll have to play bookie in my head…"  He turned to his fellow witness.  "Hey, Bart, got any cash on you?" 

"Huh?  Why?" 

"Who's your favorite?"

Bart thought.  "I'm going to have to go with Starfire, just 'cause she's won the other two times."

            Gauntlet took out a twenty dollar bill.  "With a track record like that, seven will get you five.  You got twenty-eight bucks?"

            Bart ruffled through his pockets, counting a random assortment of crumpled bills and coins at nearly light speed.  "Hmmm… yeah, yeah I do." 

            Gauntlet smirked, waving the money under Bart's nose.  "So, do we have a bet?"

            Bart shook Robert's hand.  "Deal.  Though I don't know how you could bet against your own teammate…"

            Gauntlet shrugged.  "This is business.  This way, no matter who wins, I come out on top."

            Bart frowned for a fraction of a second, but decided to turn his focus back to the battle. 

            Even as Bart and Robert placed their bet, Starfire and Blackfire were locked arm in arm in a titanic shoving war.  Each tried to gain some leverage on the other, but their efforts were futile; they were too evenly matched.  After nearly a minute of this, Blackfire decided to end the stalemate.  She flew backwards, catching Starfire off guard.  The younger sibling was thrown off balance, and Blackfire took advantage of this, throwing Starfire into the hard concrete.  She followed up immediately with a Blackbolt larger than she was. 

            Starfire recovered quickly and rolled out of the way as the bolt exploded.  Although she avoided the brunt of the blast, she was still blown into the air.  She quickly recovered and fired a few smaller Starbolts at her sister.  Blackfire easily dodged the hastily aimed shots.  "Your aim's even worse than usual, Kori!  Don't make it THAT easy for me!"

            Blackfire's taunts were cut off as Starfire flew in at top speed and kicked her in the gut.  Komand'r was thrown backwards by the impact, bouncing off of the street and into the side of a building.  The brick and mortar barely held, and Blackfire was surprised that her spine was still intact. 

            Gauntlet muttered, "So much for staying in the circle…"

            Starfire summoned another pair of Starbolts.  "Do you surrender?"

            Blackfire laughed.  "Oh, sis, you are just too much.  To quote some earthling, I have not yet begun to…"  She drifted off in mid sentence and then pointed behind Starfire, screaming, "What in X'hal's name is THAT!?"

            Starfire spun around, only realizing the ruse as a pair of Blackbolts slammed into her back.  Before she could recover, Blackfire was making a b-line for her.  "All that pollution around these parts must be killing your brain cells!"

            Starfire took a blow to the face, but managed not to go flying this time.  Blackfire's follow-up right hook was blocked, and Starfire kneed her sister in the gut.  Komand'r reeled backward as Starfire's injuries caught up with her.  They both landed across from each other, Blackfire sinking to her knees.  Starfire stayed standing.

            Bart said, "Hah!  That twenty bucks is as good as mine!" 

            Robert shook his head.  "Not if my Gambler Sense is still working."

            Silence reigned for several moments.  Bart piped in, "Your what?"

            "Even before I found the Gauntlet, I had a natural talent that allowed me to predict the result of any bet or wager.  It's a mutant skill, if you will."

            "Dude, you are SO making that up."

            "Yeah, so what?  You'd be amazed how many times talking about it works when I'm bluffing in poker." 

            Komand'r rose to her feet, whipping a trickle of blood from her mouth.  "Y-you're just as good as I remember.  Better, maybe."

            Starfire glared at her sister.  "The Final Night saw to that." 

            Blackfire shook her head, scarcely clearing the cobwebs.  Her muscles ached, protesting the movement required even to stand.  Don't you DARE fall now, Komand'r.  The other times were about revenge.  This is honor.  "I heard about that in prison.  Very impressive." 

            Starfire's hair was blown back as an aura of green energy surrounded her.  "No stalling."  A giant Starbolt traveled between them, Blackfire barely leapt out of the way.  The blast drilled into the side of a nearby building, its wall collapsing before the building exploded in a hail of shrapnel. 

            Impulse used his vibratory powers to allow chunks of brick and mortar to pass through him, even as Gauntlet struggled to raise his energy barrier in time.  Both cried on in surprise as a section of wall larger than they were hit the ground between them.  Surprisingly, both escaped with minimal injuries. 

            Gauntlet panted, "This is getting out of control!"

            "No DUH, Gauntlet.  It's time to break it up!"  Impulse started to run towards the fighters, but Gauntlet managed to grab him by the scruff of his shirt.  "Gak!  What the hell!?"

            "Look, I don't claim to be an expert on this kind of stuff, but Starfire was very clear that if we interfered, the ritual is off.  And if the ritual is off, then the two NEVER make up, and we all get to live in fear of Blackfire impersonating her sister or something.  We just gotta be ready for Blackfire to pull something.  She's losing, and with that track record of hers, I wouldn't be surprised if she cheated."

            As if to punctuate Gauntlet's remark, Blackfire flew out of the rubble, carried by a Starbolt.  She fell to the ground, and the green energy blast flew out of sight. 

            Starfire floated down next to her sister, looking far worse for wear.  "Komand'r, give up.  You gain nothing from continuing this.  You have lost!  I do not wish to harm you further."

            Blackfire rose onto her hands and knees, blood flowing freely from several large wounds.  "Kori… don't you see?  By living you harm me.  If that loony bin had anything worth learning, it was THAT." 

            Starfire halted, taken aback by the comment.  "What?  I have not done anything to you!"

            Blackfire barked out a humorless chuckle.  "You know of my deformity.  Even the youngest child on Tamaran can fly; it was not until puberty that I finally managed to get enough skill and strength to manage it.  What mother and father hid from you was how I was tortured for that.  They hired teachers and therapists, trying their hardest to awaken some supposed potential within me.  Had I been born with no feet, they probably would have forced walking upon me."  She stood up, swaying, ready to collapse at any given moment.  "Every quack theory was applied to me.  They tried carrot.  They tried stick.  But NOTHING worked.  Do you know what every last blasted one of them said?"  She spat out each word, the pain she felt from doing so evident.  "Why.  Can't.  You.  Be.  Like.  Your.  Sister.  You were the perfect one, the GOOD one.  They said they passed me over to rule because I was "evil."  "Your sister's dark hair matches her emotions."  ANOTHER DEFORMITY; every other member of the royal family has always had red hair, or blond hair or ANYTHING but black hair!  I had the hair of a commoner, they all said."  She seethed, tears flowing down her cheek.  "Everyone talking about me, pitying me, hating me, trying to "fix" me!  I didn't want to be fixed, but to them I was a defective princess, never just me!  Even YOU would always say that you felt sorry for me!  You thought I couldn't hear, and you didn't care even when I could!"  As she spoke, purple energy built up around her, but Starfire barely noticed. 

            Starfire was hit hard by this realization.  It… it's true.  I never even saw it that way… "I… I am so sorry…"

            That comment broke whatever last bit of restraint that Blackfire had within her.  "DON'T YOU GET IT!?  I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR DAMN PITY!!!!"  The purple energy suddenly expanded, enveloping Starfire instantly and throwing both witnesses backwards.  Impulse managed to vibrate through the brick wall that knocked out an unprepared Gauntlet.  The energy flowed out, forming a gigantic dome over the entire area.

            For nearly twenty seconds, the unrelenting attack blasted the ruins surrounding them.  What few structures had remained standing collapsed, sending dust and debris in all directions.  Impulse went into action, pulling an unconscious Gauntlet out of the way of the destruction.  After getting to a safe distance, Impulse, glanced back, as the energy finally dissipated.  He muttered, "Looks like I'm out twenty-eight bucks…"

End Part 8

*Yes, he was running at light speed while groggy.  People drive groggy, and he's just that irresponsible.  Just thank God he didn't cause a space time rift or vibrate something wrong, or else we'd ALL be in trouble.