Edge of Darkness: Gods and Demons
From Immortalis
The strangers watched with growing irritation as the cars, trucks, and buses zipped past them. They'd been trying to cross the busy street that separated the beachfront from the main business section of the large Midwestern population center know as Lakeside City. The taller of the two, Michael, growled impatiently: "Will this chaos and noise never cease?" He snarled, raising his right hand.
The smaller one, a female, Mara, gave him an angry glance. "Michael! Remember that we were directed to blend in!" She snapped. "When was the last time that you were in this realm?" She asked in a measured tone. "I was here more than two millennia ago. I smote Nebuchanezzer for his repeated insolence. I released the Four Seals to initiate the end of all things."
"You freed the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? How did that work out for you?" Mara's question dripped with sarcasm. "Molok nearly resurfaced, and laid waste to millions of souls." She added angrily. Michael's temper subsided. "I spent two hundred years stoking the fires of Perdition, and another fifty years mucking out the stalls of the winged steeds of the Valkyrie."
Mara smirked. "Remember, Michael, rage, arrogance, and intemperance are frowned upon by Him, to say the least. You recall what happened to Lucifer?" She let the veiled threat hang in the air. "Mara where were you when you last walked upon this Earth?" Michael challenged. She sighed deeply. "After my father was martyred for His cause, I walked the known world preaching, and trying to turn all that I found to the Light. I fought many battles, sword in hand, before I was defeated."
"Why did the mortals not record any of this?" Michael wondered. "Because it didn't fit their narrative." Mara answered. "My existence was struck from all records. Don't forget, that back then, only the very well educated were able to read and write. Those that wrote the Sacred Scrolls couldn't comprehend the fact that a mere woman had bested them in battle. They preached pacifism, and as a result, here we are, evil has once again gained a foothold in the mortal realm."
"That's the truth." Michael agreed. "The war for eternity never ends. The world, in fact, all of the worlds must at least stay in balance, where neither good nor evil gains the upper hand. It would make my existence much more peaceful, if only good would come of every world." Mara nodded. "In that, you are correct my friend." She patted him on the back.
"In our present forms we must be very careful." Mara pointed out. "While we are in this realm, we are subject to the myriad of temptations and emotional swings that plague the general populace." Michael couldn't argue her sound logic. "Of course, m'lady, we must remain ever vigilant." He stated with resignation. "How will we proceed?"
Mara watched as the morning rush hour traffic began to briefly subside. "We will proceed by observation, much like a hunter stalking the habitat of its prey. We watch, learn, and react. This world is so unfamiliar to me, that we have no specific pattern yet. We will simply focus on our mission."
Over in Metropolis, Lois and Clark left the meeting with Agent Johnson with more questions than answers. They briefly stopped off to get some coffee, taking a moment to grab a seat at the outdoor café across from the Daily Planet Building. "Clark, have we gotten in way over our heads with this?" Lois asked after taking a big sip of the steaming hot cup of Joe. "What do you mean Lois?" Clark asked with concern.
"We've fought Zod and the Kandorians, Lex and the meteor freaks, Lionel and his illicit experiments, Doomsday, and a super powered idiot named Bizarro. How is government corruption any different than those previous battles?" Clark inquired. "We had absolute power over those events, Clark. Taking on the government is a completely different enemy." Lois countered.
"I don't like the idea of taking on the government either." Clark admitted. "Do you remember all of the trouble we had with Checkmate?" Lois nodded. "Yes, that was my point exactly. All we know from Agent Johnson's story is that the super evil cabal of the Majestic-12, are evil power brokers that play worldwide games of domination and submission, using both legal and illegal means."
"It does seem like a lot to take on." Clark admitted. "I guess that when Kara and I swore to protect Earth from all of its enemies, that has to include enemies within Earth's society as well. I think you're right, Lois. We shouldn't take this on by ourselves. This might be the time to press Oliver and Jon Jonz to organize the League. We should talk to them soon and get some type of plan together."
"The Majestic Twelve should be considered an international terrorist organization." Lois conceded. "I'm going to talk to my father, Sam Lane, and get his take on them. Of course he'll try and talk me out of getting involved, but if we don't do it, who will?" Clark rubbed his square jaw, and pushed his fake glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Agent Johnson wanted to meet again when he has more information, but we should get started, based on what we already know."
Lois got up from the cast iron café chair and held out her hand for Clark to hold. They walked across the street arm in arm and headed back to work at the Daily Planet. Perry would want an update to their discussion with Johnson. They would have to fib to Perry, and say that the investigation lead didn't pan out. Lois and Clark decided that the least amount of people that got involved, the better.
M-12 had grown too powerful, according to Johnson. They considered themselves above the law, and above any form of international governance. It wouldn't be easy to bring them down, Clark mused. If they had a powerful army of lawyers at their beckoned call, how could they be defeated? He considered any number of possibilities, none of which he'd liked. Would he and Kara have to do something illegal for the greater good? Would the general populace think of the alien visitors as gods?
Clark sat at his desk across from Lois, and was quickly lost in thought. The best way to defeat M-12 would likely have to have a very human influence on it, which put the responsibility for the mission squarely on Oliver's shoulders, as well as the other non-alien members of the League. To bring down the M-12, one would need money and power, neither of which he and Kara had. That left Oliver, Marcus Worthington, and The Batman and his crew. The caped crusaders obviously had a big financial backer.
Back in Lakeside City, Mara and Michael gingerly crossed the five lane street, entering the sidewalk nearest to the edge of a public park that rimmed the outskirts of the downtown area. By now, the sun had climbed high over the lake, and its rays reflected off the myriad of downtown Lakeside City high-rises. "It is like the Pharaohs themselves have returned." Michael criticized as he glanced up at the illuminated buildings, with their grand designs, and peaks that reached towards heaven.
"We must recall that we are here for a specific purpose, and He has instructed us to interfere in the mortal society as little as possible." Mara began as she walked gracefully down the center path of the park which led to a large ornamental fountain. The gothic style fountain featured a number of fanciful creatures resembling sea monsters, fish, gargoyles, and winged aquatic birds.
The water spewed high into the air and then fell into four separate ponds that ringed the main fountain. It was colorfully lit with bright panels and smaller spotlights that shone through the sparkling jets of water. They varied in hue from blue, green, yellow, orange, and blood red. "It's beautifully crafted, Michael." Mara praised. "A skilled stonecutter must have created the design."
"True. Perhaps it was cut by a free mason, though it is a bit ostentatious." Michael analyzed. "This world still holds so much beauty. I'd hate to see it destroyed." Mara commented wistfully. "Then we must redouble our efforts." Michael pointed out. "Indeed." Mara agreed, briefly thrusting her hand into the cool, clear water. The lights continued to dance across the base of the fountain and into the side pools.
"I had forgotten what it was like, Michael. Forgotten the feel of wind blowing through my hair as I rode my steed into battle, forgotten the blast of cool water on my sun drenched face, forgotten the beauty of the flowers in the growing season, and I had forgotten it all." Mara said remorsefully. Michael nodded as the cool stiff wind blew in from across the lake, and through his long golden locks of hair.
"What is our primary mission, again?" Michael questioned, in an attempt to refocus his thoughts. "He wasn't very specific." Mara began as she wiped her wet hands on her face. She brushed her long chestnut brown hair from her tan high cheekbones. She enjoyed another cool misty spray from the edge of the fountain. "He said that we must find a new group of warriors to defend us against the Dark Ones." Mara explained. "Haven't we enough good souls to defend us?" Michael inquired.
"Sadly, many souls have turned to the Darkness. I have felt the blackness and coldness within their hearts." Mara said as she stepped back from the fountain. "He gave them that choice." Michael defended. "True. However, the balance has recently shifted towards evil. Darkness has once again made its move, grabbing every conflicted soul that it can." Mara continued. "Further, the mortal realm has been rocked by varying evolutions of individual power of late."
"As we know, absolute power corrupts absolutely." Michael remarked. "Again, I speak of the fall of Lucifer." Mara reminded him. "Powerful beings must be guided towards the Light." Michael started to walk up the incline towards the path that was lined by many trees, bushes, and flowers. "Has this power shift been caused by the recent arrivals of the off worlders?" he asked Mara over his shoulder. "What were their names, Kal El, Kara, Jon Jonz, and the others?"
Mara shook her head as she followed him up the incline. "They are simply the victims of circumstance. Kal El and Kara are refugees from a long dead world, as is the Martian Manhunter." Michael deftly reached the top of the ridge that edged the paved pathways leading towards downtown. "They are interfering in the natural order of things." Michael complained.
"One can say that." Mara debated. "But one could also say that they are here to help us. As I understand it, they have vowed to protect this world. We will hold them accountable for that vow, or their failure to keep it. As of now they are unaware of their status." The strange couple resumed the walk through the park towards the inner city. They noted the first people they'd seen closely in this realm.
A female jogger ran past them, a young man walked his dog, and two young male bicycle riders rode by, all blissfully unaware of the visitors. To the denizens of the mortal realm, Michael and Mara appeared to be just an average couple out for an early morning stroll. They'd been given the ability to influence how others would see them, similar to a chameleon blending into its surroundings.
As they left the park and headed into the city proper, a cold tingling sensation came over Mara's humanlike spine. "Michael! Do you feel it, the power surge? We are not alone!" her voice rose substantially as she spoke. They ducked into a nearby alley. Mara drew her invisible sword and Michael followed suit. They stood back to back, brandishing their weapons.
"The feeling is strong, but this mortal form is keeping me from identifying the source of the energy disruption." Michael's voice rose as he spoke as well. "Show yourself foul beast!" Mara shouted into the darkness behind a large metal garbage scow. A common large street rat ran out in front of them, and morphed into a bright red and black colored being.
"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" The creature said. It had a thin tall body. The being closely resembled a goat with curled black rams' horns atop its triangular elongated head. "We have no friends here!" Michael snapped. "Baltazar!" Mara hissed as Baltazar flashed them a fanged grin. "I'm not surprised, with that kind of an attitude!" The upper level demon taunted.
"What're you doing up here?" Michael growled as he struck a fighter's pose and aimed his sword at the demon. Immediately, the sword's blade turned to flame, as did Mara's. "I could ask you two the same question." Baltazar retorted. "He sent us here." Mara replied vaguely. "He commanded us to return." Michael added without giving anything away.
"What about His noninterference policy?" Baltazar fished. "Why don't you ask Him?" Mara taunted. The demon folded his surprisingly muscular red arms. "That explains it." Baltazar continued. "I was commanded to appear in the mortal realm by my superior as well."
All of this drama took place in the common looking alley just outside of Lakeside City's main shopping district. No one was the wiser, as the immortals concealed their arrival. To passersby, the alley merely had two homeless looking people and a rat within it.