LII
Mister Miracle vs. Black Adam
Scott Free examined this dark stranger before him. He had no idea who 'The Great Eagle' was, but from the man's actions, he assumed it was Clark. Mister Miracle cast aside his initial fear and addressed the man in black.
"We have no quarrel with you. He's been poisoned."
"I am only here for The Great Eagle. Flee now, and you may live… for today." The stranger spoke with god-like confidence, tones Scott normally associated with Darkseid. If he could walk-the-walk as well, Scott was in for a battle.
"I can't do that. Who are you?"
"I am Teth Adam, champion of the gods. And you…" Teth Adam summed up Scott carefully from head to toe."…are a false god. What do you claim to be the god of?"
Scott could no longer underestimate this man. He seemed to be able to learn things that he had no right knowing. Only seconds ago, Scott felt certain that this Teth Adam had regarded him as only a commoner in a bizarre outfit. With a cursory glance, he had surmised his new god heritage.
"Freedom," answered Scott. The man of lightning-and-black had made it obvious that he wasn't here for Scott. But Scott could not abandon the dying Kryptonian who was his friend and Adam's true target. Thankfully, Barda was not a woman to waste time. Scott only needed to stall Adam for a minute or two.
"Then I have a challenge for you, false god…"
Scott could not believe the speed at which his opponent moved. Mister Miracle himself was inhumanly fast, able to dodge bullets before they left the barrel… but this was the speed of lightning. The air itself snapped as Teth Adam appeared instantly in front of the new god – with his mighty hand wrapped around the escape artist's throat. The cold, dark eyes of a serpent looked up at the now-dangling new god… hoisted one full foot off the ground. The Adam smugly spoke his challenge.
"…Free yourself."
As the son of the Highfather, Scott Free was immensely powerful, a being of pure will. He did not wear his birthright openly, but the power was inside him nevertheless. Grabbing Adam's right thumb and fingers, he unconsciously channeled his will into immortal strength to prevent his neck from snapping. He pulled with all his might to break Adam's death-grip.
"Impressive, false god. But you have the hand of the true gods themselves around your throat."
Scott felt something in his neck crack. As impossible as it was, he could not match strength with Adam. But there was one contest Scott would not lose. Even cast among the overlords of Apokolips as a child, his will could not be broken.
Scott Free projected indomitable spirit as he glared at the black eyes of his oppressor. His thoughts, his will and his determination joined to project one message with perfect clarity…
LET GO.
The power of Free's god-born resolve railed against the heavens above, forming a rolling shelf cloud above them. The remaining leaves of every tree within two miles suddenly detached from their branches and fell to the earth. In a nearby tennis court, every player suddenly released the grip on their rackets while watching nets detach from their moorings. Even the rain spilled from the sky as the clouds could no longer hold their watery charge.
Beads of rain running down his quivering forearm, Black Adam's own will fought against muscles in his fingers to hold onto his prey. Sheer determination shook his entire being… just to maintain his vice-like grasp of the immortal he held. Lightning flashed from the sky as thunder boomed overhead while the rain masked beads of sweat that ran down his forehead. He stood in an immortal struggle - the will of the universe against the will of gods. So complete was his concentration, his battle, he never heard the war cry screamed behind him…
"PUT MY HUSBAND DOWN!"
Scott Free popped loose as Barda's fist slammed into the back of Black Adam's head, sending shock waves hundreds of feet and a WHOMPF sound that could be heard from miles away. Scott sensed the antidote.. laying on the ground ten feet away from Big Blue, still in the medi-cooler. Of course…
"Keep him busy." It was all Scott Free could do to speak (let alone breathe) but Barda nodded. The priority right now had to be Clark's life. Scott took the opportunity to get past Black Adam and at the medi-cooler.
"That… hurt." Teth Adam rubbed the back of his head as he turned to face Barda.
"By the Highfather! How is it you still stand devil?!" Barda had delivered a blow that would have leveled a high-rise building to the back of this stranger's head.
"Such beauty would bring most men to their knees, t'is true… But I am not most men. And you are a vision of power and perfection."
"Hmph…" Barda grinned. "I did hit you pretty hard. Look, I'm married, that was my husband you were just strangling. It's been a really bad day and kicking you around may be just what the doctor ordered…"
"You are wasted on him. Join me as my queen. We shall rule eternity together."
"…Scott?" Barda called back to her husband. "…Did you do something to this guy? He's talking really weird."
"He has done nothing to me, nor could he... It is you that have affected me." With a speed she hadn't seen since Apokolips, he was an inch away from her, his hand behind her head weaving fingers like steel into her long, dark hair and his lips too near. By the gods, he was strong!
"I am the will of the gods," he spoke softly to her. "I am destiny. Your destiny."
Barda had been raised as a warrior of Darkseid, hardened by the fires of Apokolips. She knew an opening when one presented itself. Driving her knee upwards between her paramour's legs - she smiled as he winced. As his hands instinctively drove to the injured parties between his legs, Black Adam released her. Barda grabbed him with leverage and threw. Utilizing all her power, she hurled him into the heavens.
…Only to watch him slow his flight, stop, spin and stand mid-air above her. And he could fly?! With fists on his hips, Adam looked down at her and laughed… amused. The pain he had felt a second ago gone.
"You are not so easily tamed, beautiful one. Fitting for a Queen of the Universe, methinks… How strange this time is for me, where women are warriors, and men dress in garish fashion to hide behind their mother's mercy. How pitiful the sex of man has become." Adam intentionally directed the scorn of his last sentence in Scott's direction.
'Sticks and stones' thought Scott as he located the puncture wound where David Cain's deadly dosage had been injected into Clark's back. Luthor's needle didn't have the advantage of a kryptonite tip so Scott had to locate the same, small hole. With delicate hands, he injected Big Blue with the entire hypodermic and said a prayer to the Highfather.
"…Or perhaps he prefers the company of fallen men," continued Teth Adam. "But your beauty has distracted me long enough, my untamed warrior from another world. I must relieve your husband of his prize and continue our courtship at another time. And then you shall be mine!"
It was all Scott could do to avoid being swept away with a lightning strike as Teth Adam snatched a still unconscious Clark from where he lay and disappeared into unseen distances - all in the blink of an eye.
With Adam gone, Scott focused his will into his own neck and forced his cervical vertebrae back into normal alignment. A loud crack and pop filled the air as he gingerly massaged the back of his neck.
Barda looked over at her husband, grinning. "Gosh Scott, you really had him on the ropes there, honey."
"Yes… I did." Scott turned frightening for a brief instance. "But thank you, Barda. Your arrival was very timely. I was able to get the antidote into Clark. He has a chance… And for the record, you know you're the queen of my universe, right?"
"Queen of your universe? I own you, hubby. Don't forget it!" She took her husband into her arms and held him for a moment, lifting him off the ground.
"We're going to need help," Scott sighed.
"I know," she whispered, betraying the apprehension hidden behind the battle scars of memory. "So will Clark."
With that, they departed.
Author's Note:
Black Adam knows a good thing when he sees it.
In my story, Scott Free is able to utilize the Source like his father by will power.