TERROR
CHAPTER 21
Adam Butler was sitting at his desk in his den,looking at the drawings for a new project. He winced. He had a splitting headache that was not going away despite having taken painkillers two hours ago. He pulled open a drawer and fumbled for the bottle of Advil. He tried flipping the top with his thumb and the entire bottle fell out of his hand and rolled under the desk. He got to his feet and bent to retrieve it. As he stood up,he saw a white face with red eyes and jagged teeth like knives sneer at him from the window pane.
Terror filled him and he fumbled for his gun at the back of the drawer. His hand shaking,he pointed it at the window. There was nothing. Just the curtain blowing in the breeze. He gasped and sank upon the chair. He must be working too hard.
Diana Prince was back at school in September. It was strange to be back after all that happened with her in the last month. It was if a lifetime had passed since she was last at St Theresa's. But the enthusiasm of some of the girls made up for it. Sophy was delighted to see her, as well as several of the others,who flocked around her; Jena just grinned from her back seat. The latter, cognizant of her secret,knew that Wonder Woman and the League had a hard time this past summer,and was just relieved that she could see her favourite teacher once more. Diana was amused to see that Jena had left off the black lipstick and nail polish. She still dressed in her black colours but there wasn't the bored look on her face during class. Georgiana Howard had not altered much. She was as obnoxious as ever.
Sophy had a message from her father,which she relayed to Diana during a recess.
"He wants to know why you haven't been in touch?"
Diana said apologetically."Sorry, Sophy,it's been a difficult time for me. Um,family issues. I promise I'll give him a ring."
She didn't have to even give him a ring. Adam turned up at the school after hours and caught her as she walking out onto the pavement."Hey you."
Diana blinked."Adam. What a surprise!"
He opened his car door."Come on,let buy you a drink."
She was hesitant,but relented after he mouthed,"Please?"
He drove to a coffee house and they sat down and had two lattes.
"So,why have you been avoiding me?"
"I haven't ...I've just had some personal issues to deal with..."
"Are those issues resolved now?"
She replied,"You could say so."
He reached out to cover her hand."I missed you."
Diana pulled her hand away. He frowned."Have I done something to offend you,Diana?"
She looked awkwardly at him."Adam,I owe it to you to be honest. I like you and respect you,but anything else..."
His brows went up."Whoa,where did this come from?I thought we had something here."
"I tried to give it a chance,but it would have never worked."
He stiffened and leaned back."Is there someone else?"
"Not in the way you mean."
"What other way is there?If you care about someone,then there's nothing else to say?"
She sighed."I'm sorry."
He shrugged."Look,I'm a big boy. I can take rejection. I just hope this guy's worth it."
Diana leaned her chin on her hand."He is."
"So what's the problem here?"
"It's complicated. We just can't be together right now."
"What's the deal?He's not married, is he?"
"No,it's nothing like that. You wouldn't understand."
"Ah,that means you don't want to talk about it."He signaled to the waitress for the bill."If you feel like you need an ear,I'm here. I'll give you a lift home."
Adam was asleep in his bed and having the same troubling dreams. He was seeing the demonic face and his wife as she died in its deathly grasp. He tossed his head restlessly.
A voice seemed to come from nowhere in his inner consciousness."Wake up."
He shook his head as if in pain.
"Wake up."
He jerked upright with a gasp. His eyes went blindly to the window. Almost as if in a trance,he got up. His fingers reached for the keys to his car. He walked out of the bedroom and down the staircase. The house was dark and he walked straight out into the garage. He pressed the garage door open and as he was about to get into the car,when a light flashed in his eye. He gave a suppressed growl. It was one of the watchmen.
The man turned his torch off with a look of apology."Oh,it's you Mr Butler. Is everything alright?It's three am..."
Adam nodded."Yes."
The man nodded."Taking a spin?"
Adam came around to him and said woodenly,"Yes,a spin."
"Well,you take care..."He looked at him a bit curiously because he was in track bottoms and a tee-shirt and wore no footwear.
Adam said,"I will."
He waited until the man turned his back and struck him from the behind. The watchman fell in a heap. Dragging him easily by a foot,he deposited him in the trunk. He then got into the Porsche and roared out of the drive way. The guard at the gate watched him go with a perplexed expression. Normally Mr Butler would always stop and say hi before he left. Maybe it was an emergency.
Adam drove towards an old abandoned warehouse and got out,carrying the body of the watchman over his shoulder. He walked in through the darkness as one accustomed. He headed for a side door that led to some steps that spiraled down into the ground. He emerged into what was a large basement. Inside were rows of trolleys with male humans their skulls cut open and brains missing. Suspended from the ceiling,wrists bound together,mouths gagged, were dozens of other living human females,their eyes wide with terror. Adam dropped his burden on an empty trolley and looked at the creatures who turned and looked at him with their red eyes and jagged teeth.
"Comrade. Welcome."
Adam Butler suddenly morphed into one of the creatures himself. He watched as two creatures came towards him. He suddenly knew them. All of the memories of Adam Butler seemed to melt away and his own identity stood reflected in the dozens of his alien brothers around him. The alpha male and female came towards him. He bowed.
"Protex. Primaid."He bowed in deference.
The Leader of the White Martians acknowledged him. "So,Procyron,you have waken finally. We are gathering our forces together,Brother. In time we will emerge and take over the
Earth."
He looked around."We are few."
"There are still some to awaken."
"What happened to me?I recall a battle on another star system"
"We were defeated years ago and had to flee. This planet presented itself but we were too weak and few in numbers to take over. So we remained in stasis...We took over human bodies...killing the real hosts and fusing their memories with our own. It was a chance to live on the earth and get use to the environment,study our enemy,learn how they think...so when we return,we will rule this world. We are close to wakening the others,and then we will dominate this planet. And we will expand our armies as we get more females to gestate Primaid's seed."
"Something is not right."began J'onn,looking at the report that Batman had compiled."Since the Ares and Darkseid battle,there has been a reportedly three thousand missing,specifically,around the Eastern Seaboard.."
Lantern folded his arms."What's strange about it?Many people died in action and their bodies went missing. That isn't unusual in war."
"Maybe not,but I sense something amiss. As if a malevolent shadow is coming upon us."
"Have you spoken to any of the other psychics?"asked Superman,who always had confidence in J'onn's extra sensory abilities.
"Not yet..."
"I would were I you."
Lantern added,"Why don't Clark and I go and do some back ground checks on the missing people?"
"Yes,that would be a start. I'll give you a list."He handed over the list to Superman,who with one swift scan,exclaimed,"Adam Butler!"
J'onn said gravely,"Yes,he's been missing over the weekend."
"Does Diana know?"asked Lantern.
"Yes,and she is trying to follow up some leads."
"Well,why don't we start with Boston,Clark?" mused Lantern
Superman's face was a blank slate. He said,"Sure."
Clark Kent and John Stewart's arrived in Boston on Monday morning. John was going to go to the firm,whilst Clark ,as Planet reporter, went to the millionaire's home. No one knew anything at the firm and no one would speak at the house. All Clark found out was that young Sophy Butler was not at home. He also found out that a watchman was missing and had last been seen by the guard two nights ago,the same night Mr Butler drove off in his Porsche.
Clark called John on his cell."I'm not having much luck here."
John replied,"The people at the firm are none the wiser."
"Maybe I should scan the city."
"Is it ever so simple?I think I'll pay a visit to the police as Green Lantern. Why doesn't Mr Kent go see Diana Prince and see if she has any information?"
It was lunch time when Clark Kent arrived at St Theresa's and asked for Diana Prince. She was in the staff room,when a secretary came over to relay the message. Apart from Adam Butler, Miss Prince rarely had male visitors. And it was already known in school circles that the teacher had not been seen with the architect for weeks. Mrs Holmes and several other teachers perked up and looked teasingly at their colleague.
"So,Diana,a male caller?Is this the successor to Butler?" began the young Art teacher.
"Who is he?Is he rich too?" asked the Biology teacher sourly from her desk
Mrs Holmes mused."Clark Kent?That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?Why yes!My Harold reads his columns!You have a very clever boyfriend,Diana..."
Diana tried to dismiss these speculations but it was difficult when she found herself reddening like a self conscious teenager. She gave up and hurried away towards the foyer.
Her stomach had those funny butterflies in them. And she felt herself blush as he turned at the sound of her footsteps. Three weeks had passed since he kissed her and although they saw each other in passing at the Satellite or at meetings,they had not really had any time to speak privately.
"Hey you."He smiled the lopsided, boyish smile that made her pulses quicken.
"Clark. What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk."
She tried to look casual."What?"
"About Adam Butler."
She blinked."Oh."
"He's been missing for two days now."
"You heard about that?"
"Yes. Is there anywhere we can go without being gaped at?"He gestured to the students walking past and eyeing them with curiosity. In an all girl school,where gossip was a mainstay of life,it was with interest that they looked at the tall man in the slate gray suit and dark frames,who was clearly, from the way their teacher looked at him and he her,not just a passing acquaintance.
They went out into the quadrangle,a large space with trees and benches,just across the road from the school. They stood under a thick oak.
"Have you spoken to the police?" he queried.
Diana sighed."They have no idea. They found his Porsche abandoned in a ditch. They're working on the theory of kidnap,but no one has called for a ransom."
"Could it have been foul play?"
"There was no sign of a struggle or blood to indicate he was forcibly removed from his car."
"Could he have succumbed to any stress?"
She looked up."You mean hurt himself?"
"It's always a possibility. He is responsible for a million dollar business."
She looked troubled."The business is solvent and prospering from all accounts. Clark,last week,when I saw him...I told him that I wasn't interested anymore."
Clark gave her a reproving look."Why would you do that?"
"I didn't think it fair for me to string someone as decent as Adam along when I don't care for him other than as a friend. But he took it well. It never occurred to me that he was that upset to..."
"That's not what I mean. He seemed a good man,Diana. Someone who would have been able to give you everything. You might have been able to build a future..."
She retorted bluntly,"A rich substitute for you?Don't be foolish,Clark. I'd rather be alone."
His eyes softened. He said wearily,"You realize you're not exactly helping the situation here?"
She folded her arms and said mockingly,"Maybe in time someone else might come along and I'll take up his offer. You can save your blessings for us then..."
He said dryly,"Yeah,that's a delight I'll be looking forward to." He shoved his hands in his pockets said briskly,"Let's get to the matter at hand. The League has reports of thousands of missing people around the Seaboard. J'onn also is getting that uneasy feeling he gets when something is brewing. Lantern is speaking to the police to get some background on the numbers missing in Boston. Others are checking Gotham,Keystone City,Washington,Metropolis,New York,Philadelphia and Baltimore."
Diana frowned."You think they are linked to Adam's disappearance?"
"Maybe,maybe not. How is Butler's daughter taking the news?"
"Badly. She was close to her father. She's been given time off. She's with her grandparents."
"So no chance of talking to her then?"
"None what so ever."
"Damn. This is odd."He rubbed his chin."I hope the others have come up with something."
"Me too."
"If you hear anything else will you please let me know?"
"Of course."
The ringing of a bell indicated the end of lunch time. Diana glanced across at the school."I need to go."
He nodded."Right. Take care,Diana."
"Take care,Clark."
She turned to walk back across the road. He watched her until she disappeared into the building and then took his leave.
Diana opened the door to her apartment and walked in with a sigh of relief. She dropped her purse and satchel on the couch and went to open the door to the terrace. She had a habit of checking her plants as soon as she arrived home .After inspecting them she looked at the horizon and wondered at the recent events of people disappearing. It could be any one of a list of villains. She hoped to the gods Adam was also okay.
She went back into the kitchen and was about to take off her glasses,when she heard a knock. She opened the door and let out a gasp.
Standing before her was Adam Butler!
"Adam!Are you okay?"
She reached for his hand and drew him in. He looked at her with a smile."Diana. How are you?"
"Me?The question is where have you been!Everyone has been worried sick!Sophy is very upset."
He walked further into the apartment."Oh,I'm fine."
"Where did you go?"
"I had personal business to attend. Family business to be exact."
"Oh. Do you know that the police are looking for you?"
He seemed to be studying the room."Really?"
"Yes. They found your Porsche abandoned. We suspected the worst."
"The car was a hindrance,"he said to her bemusement.
She frowned as he turned and said,"May I get a drink of water?"
"Certainly. Would you like to sit down?"
He sat down on the couch,whilst she went to the kitchen. Once in there,she quietly took up the phone on the wall and dialed Clark Kent's cell phone."Yes, Diana?"
"Adam Butler just turned up on my door. Something doesn't seem right. Could you come...?"
The words were barely out of her mouth,as Procyron phased in behind her. She left out a gasp as he whipped his tail and she went flying across the kitchen and slammed her head. She passed out. The phone dangled,with Clark's voice shouting,"Diana!"
Procyron picked her inert body and went out onto the terrace and took to the air.
It was a minute later,when Superman landed on Diana Prince's balcony. He had just flown in as fast as he could from Metropolis. He hurried in,scanning the entire apartment .There was no sign of her. He pressed his JLA communicator."J'onn,we have a problem."
Diana Prince opened her eyes. At first they were blurred,then they focused and her eyes widened as she realized where she was.
Her wrists were bound together and she was hanging from a hook that was suspended from a ceiling. Alongside her were dozens of women,also bound, and they were crying and screaming and begging for release..Below them was the reason for their terror. There were dozens of white alien creatures,who had drugged human females on trolleys and they were carrying something that looked like an armored fetus encased in a protoplasmic sac in their clawed grasp. They were cutting open the women's wombs and implanting the thing,then taking the women and carrying them deeper into the lair.
Diana felt a cold sweat break over her. She watched the aliens and recalled from League case files that there had not only been J'onn's race of green Martian. There was a White kind. A destructive,aggressive kind. A kind that moved like a plague. That dominated,spread and destroyed. They had lost their home too and J'onn had encountered them before. He had thought he had left them behind in a far off galaxy,but it seems they were here,now on earth and had a deadly agenda.
She saw Adam Butler suddenly come under her and smile."You are awake."
Diana asked coldly,"What are you doing?"
He changed into his true form."We are sowing the seeds,my dear. I thought of you when Primaid asked for female vessels. You were topmost in Butler's mind. Well,what was left of his mind..."
Diana gritted,"You killed him."
"Yes,he is long dead. For years I thought I was him. It was Protex's way of preserving the race until we could reform and regroup. You are lucky,you will be helping us expand by donating your body. We chose only the most unspoiled for our purpose,and you are untouched by man."
"You will not get away with this."
"Oh,we will."
A another martian came up to him."Comrade,Protex calls. Our brethren are assembled upstairs."
Procyron nodded and looked up at Diana."It begins."
He and a troop of aliens departed,leaving about a dozen back to see to the remaining ten women suspended from the ceiling. Diana watched one fly up to her and turn the locks to her cuff. She was being taken to a trolley. She remained passive and whined."Please...Please don't do this..."
"Lie down,female," the creature barked."You should count yourself fortunate. You are helping expand the race. Bring the tranquilizer..."
Another was coming with the long needle to drug her. Diana waited and in the flicker of an eye,she used her foot and knocked the needle out of its hand and smashed it across the room. She tumbled into the air,grabbed the other from behind and broke its neck in a split second. There was an outcry. The others were coming at her. Some were phasing in and out,and as she downed one, another was grabbing her and trying to choke her or use its deadly pointed tail as a whip or knife.
She had managed to knock out two more,when the remaining ones jumped upon her. She was being pushed to the ground,claws were digging into her flesh;she pressed her comlink and screamed,"Superman!"
It was as in slow motion,a great wind seemed to blow into the room seconds before Diana's throat was slashed. The martians were plucked off her,one by one;two were slammed into the walls,one had both its arms broken and the other two yelped as heat vision burned and blinded them .Diana felt strong arms lifting her to her feet. Her hair was being pushed off her face and her askew glasses tossed aside. Blue eyes were scanning her for injury.
Superman held her close."Are you okay?"
She clung to him,panting,"I think so."
He drew away,and dabbed the gashes on her arms with the edge of his cape."You're bleeding"
She stilled his hand and whispered,"Kal,they're not too bad. I'll heal."
He looked around in horror at the sight around them."What are they doing?"
"They're using women to gestate their offspring..."
"Dear god,they're using us to breed...?"
"It's worse than that,"she gulped,"It's an incursion."