10 Justice League Night Falls
Hawkman immediately dove at the King of Tears. Evading the twisting mass of tentacles that were busy shooting at the Justice Society, he lashed out at the King with his Nth metal sword. The King of Tears suddenly shrieked in pain as Hawkman caught an updraft and soared away. Sentinel and Stargirl were also in the air and observed something.
"Lookit that!" Stargirl exclaimed, "He didn't just heal right up!"
Sentinel paused to shield them from an energy burst from the King of Tears, "You're right, Star. He isn't healing. Carter's sword disrupts magic. That means it can inflict real harm on the King of Tears."
Sentinel erected another shield as he turned to Stargirl, "Star, you said your Cosmic Rod and Cosmic Convertor Belt hurt Johnny Sorrow?"
"Yeah?" she thought she saw where this was going, "So you want me to blast this ugly?"
"Yes, but I want to you to strike out at the King of Tears exactly where Hawkman cut him," Sentinel explained.
Stargirl wore a giddy smile, "Sure thing."
Sentinel opened a portal in the shield. The King of Tears must have been more aware of them than Sentinel had counted on because a tentacle began to swing in their direction, "Now Courtney!"
Stargirl used the Cosmic Rod in conjunction with the powers granted her by the Cosmic Convertor Belt. The combined staff discharge with the energy stars produced by the belt slashed a swathe through the King of Tears wounded flank. The King of Tears emitted an angry roar and all of his tentacles swung towards Sentinel and Stargirl.
"Keep it up, Star!" Sentinel urged, "I'll keep you protected."
Stargirl redoubled her efforts as the King of Tears countered her blast with a combined discharge of his own. At first, the King's efforts stemmed Courtney's tide. Incrementally though, she pushed the King's beams back towards their source.
"A little help?" Stargirl grunted at Sentinel.
He could see that his younger partner was struggling. He moved his shield to the source of the problem. The resultant backlash caused the King of Tear's tentacles to disintegrate themselves. Of course, they quickly began to regrow but they had an unparalleled opportunity.
Sentinel dropped his shield, "Pour it on, Star! While he's wounded and can't strike back!"
Stargirl channeled her powers through an act of will but she was also a conduit for them. She'd never attempted to reach her limits before but she dared reach for those heights now. She flayed the flesh from what bones the King of Tears had. When she poured out as much power as her body could take, she ended the onslaught.
Looking to Sentinel, she dazedly asked Sentinel; "Did I get him?
Sentinel beamed with pride, "Yes Courtney, you definitely got him."
"Good. `Cause I'm gonna pass out now," with that declaration made, Stargirl promptly fainted.
Sentinel used his ring to catch her and the Cosmic Rod. He delivered her to a frantic Billy Batson, "Take care of her, son. She may have just saved the planet."
Billy profusely thanked Sentinel and began tending to Stargirl. Teth-Adam suddenly made an observation, "It seems another has returned to the fold."
Sentinel turned to see Anna coming in for a landing. The Silver Sorceress had broken ranks to rejoin Blue Jay so she'd come alone. But moments later, Galatea came in as well carrying Solomon Grundy. Sentinel had never been so happy to see his former foe.
"Now we shall see the course of worlds changed," Teth-Adam predicted.
Sentinel wondered what he meant by that but Teth-Adam urged him to return to the others. Sentinel flew to their location. Sand was pulling everyone back from the King of Tears. Most of the JSA had engaged the demigod while he was wounded.
"This had better be good, Anna," Sand warned, "Because we may never get a better opportunity to effectively strike out at the King of Tears."
"Tosh," Anna chastised him, "Your efforts are already in vain. He's healing again and you know it. However, I can bind the King of Tears and Courtney can destroy him."
"She tried," Sand grated, "That's how we got here."
"Not with her cosmic weapons," Anna rebutted him, "With Carter's sword. She has to enter the carcass and stab the King's heart."
"Why?" Sand suddenly asked.
"Because she has a pure heart and that is what is required to slay the beast," Anna began to explain.
"So does Maxine. I say we send Cyclone in instead," Sand interjected.
"But Cyclone hasn't been touched by cosmic energies," Anna countered, "Courtney has and that is the second part of the recipe."
"And this will permanently kill the King of Tears?" Sand wanted to know.
Anna shrugged, "So it's said. Even if it doesn't completely kill him it will lock him out of this dimension for all eternity."
Sand turned to Galatea, "Get Star. She needs to slay a dragon."
Galatea was slightly irked by his brusque manner but Sentinel intervened, "I'll come with you."
While Courtney couldn't recall why she was asleep, she knew she didn't want to wake up. And some idiot kept jostling her. Finally she began to recognize Billy's voice.
"Wake up, Court," he pleaded.
Aww, he thinks I'm dead, Stargirl thought his anguish was sweet. When she opened her eyes, expecting to see Billy gazing at her with adoration, she came to a rude realization. She was being watched by an entire audience.
Billy did look concerned. She had to give him that but she could tell her present condition was the least of his worries. The expectant look Sentinel wore tipped her off to trouble brewing.
And she suddenly remembered why she'd fainted, "Ohhh no! Count me out."
Sentinel looked miffed. Galatea smirked, "Let's have a little chat."
Stargirl could tell Tea wasn't making this a request. Stargirl exchanged one last look into Billy's eyes. What she saw there was an unwavering confidence in her. With a sigh she rose.
She looked around for the Cosmic Rod. Seeing it lying by itself several feet away she instinctively reached out for it and it leapt into her hand. She was as startled as Freddy seemed to be.
"When the hell did you start doing that?" Freddy inquired.
"Just now," Stargirl shrugged and followed Galatea as the women drew some distance from the others.
Adrianna fired off rapid fire Egyptian to Teth-Adam. He somberly nodded his agreement. Billy inquired as to what she had said.
"Adrianna is of the opinion Courtney will set out on her appointed task," Teth-Adam shared, "I tend to agree."
"Set out, but not accomplish, isn't that what you mean?" Billy became aggravated.
Teth-Adam gave him a pitying look, "Not at all, Billy Batson. Courtney Whitmore's heart is pure. She can accomplish this task. The question remains, does she have the will and drive to do so?"
"You should have seen her the first time she faced the King of Tears," Sentinel advised, "We wouldn't even have this opportunity with her."
"Indeed," Teth-Adam mused, "Then let us hope Anna Fortune's weapon can contain the beast long enough for Courtney to slay it."
"It will and so will she," Billy asserted.
Teth-Adam bestowed a benevolent smile upon Billy, "We have rarely seen eye to eye but on this we agree. Courtney Whitmore is a true hero. Ted and Jack Knight chose wisely."
Sentinel grinned, "As I recall, Star started out by stealing the Cosmic Convertor Belt from Pat Dugan."
"Yet either he or the Knights could have stripped the belt from her at any moment. Instead they eventually bequeathed the Cosmic Rod upon her as well. Would you not say they made choices along the way?" Teth-Adam inquired.
Sentinel had to relent, "I'd have to say they did."
Teth-Adam nodded his agreement, "And they chose wisely. And so did you, Billy Batson. She is a fine consort for a Marvel. The wizard must agree for he has not deigned it necessary to separate you two."
"He wouldn't do that," Billy protested and then he wavered, "Would he?"
"Trust the voice of experience, lad," Teth-Adam urged, "The wizard does as he deems fit regardless of the human cost."
"I wonder how hard of a sales pitch this is going to be." Sentinel suddenly wondered.
"You want me to go inside the King of Tears?" Stargirl yelped, "Like swallowed inside?"
"Not quite," Galatea replied, "You gouged open gaping wounds through which you can enter the King of Tears' internal organs. You just have to find his heart and plunge Hawkman's sword into it."
"No carving? No slice and dice?" Stargirl inquired.
"Anna says a simple stab will do," Galatea informed her, "Preferably up to the hilt."
Stargirl gave her an incredulous look. Galatea shrugged, "It's a big heart."
"If I do this, he never comes back?" Stargirl wanted to know, "As in, I never have to do it again, ever?"
"That's the deal," Galatea assured her.
"What about my gear?" Stargirl suddenly wondered.
Galatea smirked, "Oh, I think you'll want that with you. After all, you're probably going to have to blast your way into the thoracic cavity."
Stargirl rolled her eyes, "This just gets better and better. Tea, never try to sell a used car. That's all I gotta tell you. `Cause your sales pitch sucks."
Galatea grinned, "Being married to Blackhawk it's more likely I'd be selling a plane."
Galatea studied her, "So are you ready?"
"Yeah," Stargirl grimly agreed, "Let's do this before the big bad grows anything else back."
Anna loaded her spell casing. It was the only one left from her original load. She aimed and fired. Tendrils of energy wrapped themselves around the King of Tears' carcass and he froze in place.
"I don't know how long you will have," Anna told Stargirl, "But the time will be lengthened by the monster's wounded condition."
"Right," Stargirl said sourly. She turned to Hawkman and held out the Cosmic Rod, "Trade ya."
"Won't you need that?" Hawkman said as he accepted the proffered staff and handed over his sword.
"I've got the belt," Stargirl held up her free hand and energy stars flitted about all around it, "I started with just the belt. I just don't use it as much with having the staff around. But it'll blast a hole in just about anything. So I'm good."
Like the Cosmic Rod, the Cosmic Convertor Belt allowed its possessor to fly so Stargirl flew to the King of Tears' frozen carcass. Reaching out she pulled aside a torn flap of flesh, "Ewww! I think I'm gonna hurl."
Forcing down her gag reflex, she ventured into the space revealed. Maggots hung from the wounded areas. Fortunately, they too were immobilized. Stargirl didn't even want to think about the visceral fluids that were coating her. She promised herself a month long shower when this was over.
She pushed her way through several layers and had to use the belt's energies to blast through a few natural barriers. Finally she came to a shroud that seemed to be important. Because the balloon-like objects next to it seemed to be lungs.
She fried the membrane and the King of Tears' heart lay before her. She swallowed hard. It was as big as she was and twice as round. It suddenly tremored and then began to beat. Stargirl's rising sense of panic almost overwhelmed as the desire to flee gripped her.
Forcing herself to be steady, she marched up to the heart and plunged the sword into it. Only it got caught halfway in. Stargirl pushed on it for all she was worth, "Oh hell, no! You're goin' down you ugly mother!"
The hilt of the sword reached the cardiac walls and still Courtney pushed. The heart began to arrest and then blood began to pour from the blade's edges. It glommed onto Stargirl's boots but she didn't care at this point. She held the blade inside the heart as it bucked and spasmed.
With a quivering convulsion, the heart stopped beating. A portal opened above the heart and began to suck it in. Stargirl yanked Hawkman's sword out and began to find her way out. She needed the damn sword or the cantankerous bastard might not give the Cosmic Rod back. Using her belt, she freely blasted her way through the flesh she had crawled through earlier.
Stargirl stumbled out into the open and took flight away from the rapidly disappearing corpse. She watched as it sucked inside of itself and then vanished like it had never been there. Yet, she knew it had. Its rebirth had cost Johnny Thunder his life and that could never be repaid.
She heard cheers from behind her and Stargirl felt embarrassed. She was floating out in front of the rest of the JSA like she was on display. She landed in front of Anna.
"Next time, get a stronger spell," Stargirl advised.
She turned to Hawkman and returned his bloodied sword to him, "Here you go. A little messy but good as new. Can I have my staff back now?"
Hawkman grinned, "Well, I tried to bloody it up for you but Sand objected to me spearing anyone."
She wasn't sure if he was joking or not so she happily received her Cosmic Rod. Galatea just grinned at her, "Well you're certainly a mess."
"Yeah well, I guess there goes my victory kiss," Stargirl grumped.
She suddenly found herself in Billy's arms and he joyfully kissed her despite the blood and gore. She found herself helplessly laughing, "You goof! I'm a mess!"
"Who cares?" Billy wanted to know, "You're still alive and you just helped save the planet! What's a little blood after that?"
"Is it any wonder why I love you?" Stargirl inquired.
Billy's eyes went wide and Courtney realized what she'd just said, "Is it too late to declare a Freudian slip?"
"I love you too," he said with all sincerity, "I guess I should have said so before."
"No, I think the timing is perfect," Stargirl shared.
"Maybe not," Billy said ruefully as Sand began gathering the JSA.
"We've only just begun," Sand warned, "The Justice League came here because they thought we needed saving. As it turns out, they might need us to save them. Everybody with me?"
There was a general shout of consent. Sand's grin was hidden by his gas mask, "Then let's show them how it's done."
Diana caught Surtur's blazing sword with her bracelets, "Now Shayera!"
The Thanagarian swooped in and bashed the fire demon lord in the face with her Nth metal mace. It disrupted the creature's magical essence, thereby causing him pain. Surtur snapped his head around and belched hellfire at her.
John shielded Shayera in a bubble construct but the sheer heat made her want to pass out. Superman snapped off a roundhouse punch that staggered Surtur. But then the demon lord chuckled and spat fire at Superman.
Superman cried out in agony as the mystical flames scorched him. He plummeted to the ground below. Diana was soon by his side as were John and Shayera. John used a construct shield to block Surtur's next sword stroke.
"Whatever you're going to do, do it fast!" John demanded.
"I have to move him," Diana decided, "Shield me."
John and Shayera moved with Diana as the left Surtur's side. As they were departing they came across the approaching JSA team. Galatea looked at Superman and saw he was near critical condition and rapidly slipping away. She turned to the others.
"I have to guide Princess Diana to Dr. Mid-Nite," Galatea announced, "I'll be back in a minute."
Galatea turned to Diana, "Follow me. We have a physician standing by."
Diana nodded gratefully and followed Galatea to the Raven wreckage. Dr. Mid-Nite was fairly confident Lady Blackhawk was stabilized so he shifted into Superman's treatment with nary a moment to spare. Galatea checked on Lady Blackhawk.
"How is she doing?" Galatea inquired.
"She's an old war horse," Blackhawk grinned, "Doc thinks she'll make a full recovery."
"Great news," Galatea smiled, "But I have to go."
"Kick ass and don't take names," Blackhawk advised. She left after a quiet kiss.
Blackhawk turned to Diana, "He's in good hands. Dr. Mid-Nite is a top flight physician. Even if he wasn't a costume he'd still be changing the world one patient at a time."
"Let's hope so," Diana was cautiously optimistic, "If you recall, Clark isn't even human."
"Neither is Tea but Doc has patched her up on occasion," Blackhawk assured her, "It's not just exterior appearances that are the same. The fundamentals of the body are pretty similar between Kryptonian and humans."
"I thought Galatea was an Argoan," Diana teased him.
"Argo was colonized by Krypton so they're essential the same," Blackhawk retorted.
"Princess, he's conscious and wishes to speak with you," Dr. Mid-Nite interrupted.
Diana knelt next to Superman, "Clark?"
"Don't stop on my account," he said through a ravaged throat, "You have a world to save."
"And I shall," Diana promised, "But heal. Alexandra needs her father and I need my husband."
"I will. I promise," Superman managed, "Now go."
She flew off and he passed out. Dr. Mid-Nite was left to wonder how effectively Superman could keep his promise to his wife. He wasn't used to injury or such pain. If he were to live, he had to find depths he'd never tapped before.
Zatanna had stepped up to face Surtur as the JSA arrived. Hawkman soared in and slashed at Surtur with his sword. The demon lord bellowed in pain.
Stargirl hammered at him with the stellar energies of her staff and belt. STRIPE protected Courtney's back and leveled weapon's fire at the monstrosity. Solomon Grundy tried taking the demon lord's feet out from underneath him. The magic that kept him alive prevented him from being injured by Surtur's flames.
Anna joined Zatanna, "What ho, Zee?"
Zatanna grinned, "I'm glad to see you to. I take it the King of Tears has been dealt with?"
"Rather permanently," Anna assured her, "Now the question is, how do we deal with this beastie?"
"I have an idea," Zatanna said, "What do you know of the Alkera Charm?"
Anna's bandana mask hid her smile, "Excellent thought."
"Care to assist me?" Zatanna asked, "There's power in numbers."
"Of course," Anna said, "It would be far more powerful if we could call all four corners but we two shall have to suffice."
The two spellbinders began their work and the JLU and JSA were surprised when Surtur suddenly froze solid. Seeing an opportunity as she streaked in, Galatea smashed the frozen statue Surtur had become. She alighted near the mages with a smile.
"That was brilliant!" Galatea enthused.
"Unfortunately, not as much as you might think," Anna replied.
As the assembled JLU and JSA members gathered, they realized that the frozen chunks of ice were now burning embers. And those embers were gathering. Zatanna broke the bad news.
"Surtur will recompose himself soon," she announced, "However, we have a respite in which to plan our final attack. Anna and I may be able to not only close the dimensional portal that granted Surtur and his demons access to Earth, but we might be able to reverse the traction of the portal and suck those forces back into Ragnarok. But we'll need time."
"Then we shall buy it for you," Diana announced as she arrived, "Regardless of the cost."