Captain Marvel: The Power of Shazam #5

By George Jones

Writers note: Don't worry I haven't forgotten about the main series but this issue shall be a look back in time at the origins of Teth Adam. So enjoy and have happy holidays. George Jones. P.S thank you all for the positive feedback.

Megiddo, Israel

1457BC

Pharaoh Thutmose III marched up to his war chariot and climbed onto it, the Pharaoh gazed from left to right across the lines of his 20,000 strong army. The sun beat down on his face, adrenaline pumped through his body; feeding his brain like heroine. Thutmose slung his arrow pouch across his back and took the reins of the horses. From his left a dust bowl was kicked up as a solo horseman came riding towards him. That horseman was his greatest military general; Teth Adam. Adam came closer and pulled his horse up alongside his Pharaoh.

"My King" Adam said as he bowed his head in respect

Thutmose gestured for his general to continue

"Our scouts tell us that King Kadesh's Canaanite army is equal in number to ours but is much weaker at the center. My King, I would suggest that we strike at its weak belly and collapse their flanks into disarray. If we crush the center, we crush their moral. Once this is complete Ahmose can launch our chariots and Calvary around and onto their camp. Take the camp, nothing then stands between us and the city" Adam said as he wiped the sand from his eyes

"As you wish commander, give the order" The Pharaoh responded

Teth Adam bowed his head again and turned his horse, he then rode off into position.

8 weeks ago

Teth Adam stood inside his living quarters, the hot sun was setting over his homeland. The air blew in through the open window and brushed against his handsome but sharp face. Teth sat slumped backwards, his arm rested on his thighs. His face held a nervous expression. The door entrance behind him opened and his personal house nurse walked in with blood across her delicate hands.

"Sire," She said softly as she approached her master

"My wife…" Teth answered

"I'm sorry but she has lost the baby again, she miscarried"

A lone tear emerged at the corner of his eye, Teth raised himself to his feet and walked into his wife's quarters. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind as he found his wife laying on their blood stained bed. Teth hurried over and embraced his wife, he began to wail in hysterics.

"Isis" Teth panted his wife's name through floods of tears

"I'm sorry, I couldn't give you a son," Isis said as she buried her distraught face into his chest.

"It is not your fault my love, do not blame yourself. It is in the hands of the gods alone, but we will find a way"

Megiddo, now

Teth rode his horse up and down the Egyptian line addressing his troops.

"Here we stand! The most distance of foreign lands with the sun against our backs. After today, each and every one of you including myself will either leave this field with our shield or on it. Across that plain does not stand the army of King Kadesh but there stands your glory! Take it! It's yours!"

The Egyptian infantry advanced across the barren sandy plain towards the Canaanite army. Teth Adam led from the front and gave the order for his forces to charge when they became close enough. The Egyptian's howled and screamed as they charged, Teth pulled his ornate sword from his scabbard and waved it in the air. Adam and his infantry crashed into the enemy center, the crash of shields rang out across the valley. Teth screamed as he swiped his sword horizontally across the face of an enemy soldier; his first kill of the day and not his last.

The blood squirted across his face, a Canaanite spear was thrust into the neck of his horse killing it instantly, it howled as it crashed to the floor. Teth tumbled to the floor, the same Canaanite spearman pulled his weapon from the horse and swung it downwards at Teth but he quickly grabbed for a shield of a fallen soldier that lay next to him and pulled it in front of his face, the spear thundered into the shield and got lodged in it. Teth then tossed the shield away and grabbed the man's ankle; pulling him to the floor. Adam took off his helmet and began to strike the enemy across the cranium. The hard bronze helmet only took two devastating hits to cave the man's head in. Teth panted as he rose to his feet and howled. The Egyptian soldiers around him howled back as they seemed to be routing the enemy forces.

Memphis, Egypt

5 weeks later

The Pharaoh Thutmose III sat on his throne with a smile across his face, the large temple doors opened and Teth Adam was escorted in by two soldiers of the imperial guard. Thutmose waved the men away and allowed Teth to walk up close to him.

"Sire," Said Teth as he bowed down on his one knee

The Pharaoh smiled and gestured him to his feet.

"Teth, you are my greatest military commander, thanks to you Megiddo was taken for very little loss. Another successful campaign abroad for us both. For his I shall reward you with whatever you want; gold, land, jewels, a personal guard of soldiers or…" Thutmose winked "…whores"

Teth shook his head "My King there is only one thing I desire."

"Which is?"

"A male son, a strong male son who can carry on my name"

"You have a wife I believe?"

"That I do sire but the gods have made her womb barren for my seed."

Thutmose pondered for a few minutes

"I may know a man who can help you, he is a hermit sorcerer who lives near the edge of the city. He may be able to help you. I shall have a messenger tell him of your visit."

"Thank you sire"

The next day

Teth walked into the small house of the sorcerer. He was greeted by a youngish man in his thirties. His black hair fell on his shoulders and his face was covered with a big black bushy beard.

"By all the gods! Is it really high commander Teth Adam? For what do I owe this honour?"

"I was sent here on advice of the Pharaoh."

"And what is it that you seek? Power?"

"No. The means to impregnate my wife for she is barren."

"Aaaaah, tell me Teth; are you good of heart and strong of will?"

"I think s.o"

"I do too"

"Come with me" The man gestured as he led Teth further into his home

"You see Teth, this worldly realm needs a protector and I think I have found one."

"Your words confuse me, I came here for my wife."

"I understand but I have seen something in you. For you are pure of heart. Let me explain, we mortals live in the worldly realm, the gods live in their realm but there is another realm; the realm of magic. But not all magic is fun and pure, it corrupts and makes the heart black but when it is harnessed for good; it can be the most powerful force on this world. I am looking for a protector of this worldly realm against the evil forces of magic; I have searched for the last 1000 years but finally I have found him and that person is you."

"1000 years? You do not appear to me as dusty bones"

"Magic has no bounds. If I can prove it; will you promise yourself to my cause?"

Teth looks sceptically but nodded his head

"Very good" The man pointed to an inscription across his wall, it read as follows; Shu, Heru, Amon, Zehuti, Aton and Mehen. "You see, each letter stands for a different god and each letter makes up my name. For me to prove my claims all you have to do is pronounce my name as I lay my hands across your head."

Teth almost laughed but agreed, he knelt down and the man placed his hands across his head.

"Now speak my name"

"Shazam?"

Later

Teth Adam marched into his home, as he pushed the door opened; it crashed off its hinges and flew across the room as if it were hit by a hurricane. Isis ran from out of her room and looked at her husband. He stood taller, his skin glowed, his normally large muscles were even larger and he wore a very strange outfit. It was black with a golden streak across the chest.

"Teth what foreign clothes are you wearing?" Isis laughed

Teth didn't answer but stomped over to his wife and grabbed her shoulders. He then began to kiss her roughly

"Teth" Isis exclaimed as she tried to speak, but she quickly stopped as she felt like she was being kissed by a god

Teth continued to kiss his wife but lowered his hands to her shoulders and tossed her linen dress straps from them. Her dress fell to the floor, revealing her slim naked body. Teth grabbed her waist, heaved her up and sat her on their table; her breasts rubbed against his chest as he himself pulled off his clothing. Orgasmic sensations raced through their bodies as they continued to kiss but ran their hands across each other's skin. Isis clawed at his back and Teth groped her chest.

"To the bedroom" Teth ordered

3 Months later

"Teth, I have not bled in months. I am with child"

9 months later

Teth sat on the throne inside the temple of the kings. The doors blew open with a great force and the wizard Shazam walked in; he had not seen Teth since the day they met.

"Ah it's the sorcerer, I must thank you. My wife is near birth-"

"But that is not all is it?!"

"How do you mean sorcerer?"

"You killed our Pharaoh, you killed the royal family, you usurped the throne and you force the slaves to build you statues that touch the clouds. I misjudged you, the power I gave you has corrupted your mind, your soul and you are evil beyond my greatest fears."

"Evil? I have united his country? My power has ended all wars? All our enemies are subjugated. What evil do you speak?" Teth laughed

"Your soul has become black with magic and I shall take it back at once"

1948

The Rock of Eternity

"…then we began to fight. My magic against his, we levelled Memphis and brought devastation to almost the entire of Egypt. But I eventually managed to imprison him but in the process it sucked the life from my body, leaving me like the withered old man you see now Billy. After I put a stop to his reign the imperial guard raped and killed his wife Isis, though she had already given birth to a child who was taken in by a neighbour. I left Egypt and found my salvation here, away from the mortals; forever searching for a new protector until I found you."

"So why didn't you tell me about this Teth Adam guy before?" Captain Marvel answered

"I didn't feel it a necessity. Teth was a fallen pupil who had been imprisoned for the last near 2000 years. But when I felt his presence had been freed, I had to tell you"

"So this guy can be stopped then right? I mean you did it"

"And it almost killed me. You see Billy, you can't kill magic; it can only be transferred from one thing to another. I absorbed enough of Teth's force to weaken him so that I could imprison him; it nearly overcharged my body and stopped my heart instantly. But there is another way, if he speaks the magic word, he will revert to his mortal self. A mortal who is near 2000yrs old, he will decay to dust in seconds."

"I won't kill him. I stand for justice and murder is not justice."

"Whatever you are going to do, hurry. He has already destroyed one city. He has empowered a blood relative, I sensed it-"

"I have friends too; Mary, Freddy and this Amazonian princess who has joined our cause."

"An Amazonian? How interesting"

Freddy Freeman AKA Captain Marvel Jr. walked into the chamber

"Billy we need to go, something bad has happened"

TBC! Next Issue we are back to the main story! Hope you enjoyed our little stroll into the past!