CIV
Elysium Falls
Barda, Raven, Orion and Lightray stepped from the Boom Tube to emerge into the timeless fields of Elysium, at the exact place from where Barda and Raven had departed. The instant her foot touched the ground, Barda's eyes immediately went to her husband, the New God Scott Free, lying still upon the grass…
But Alive.
She breathed a huge sigh of relief… only to have the air ripped from her when she spied the Black Racer, only twenty feet from Scott, advancing far too quickly towards her God of Freedom. The Racer should not have been this close! They had only scarce seconds remaining!
Her shock was suddenly doubled when Lightray materialized over her fallen lover, completely oblivious to the imminent approach of the Black Racer. The fool must have slipped by her - beyond the speed of sight - so that the energetic New God was leaning over her naked husband a full twenty feet in front of her…
The colorful outfit that had been woven with Scott's Mother Box had been utterly disintegrated in his battle with Black Adam… much to Lightray's profound joy as he gazed up and down her prone love, taking in the God's physique who wore only boxer shorts.
"Oh!.. The Prince of New Genesis is as handsome as they say! And such shameful fashion sense! Though I do like the cut of his cloth!..."
"Don't touch him you idiot!" After screaming, Barda quickly debated whether or not to blast Lightray with her Mega Rod to remove him from the approach of the Racer (and her husband), but there was the possibility that she would hit Scott as well.
"This Mother Box… It must be simply antique!"
Barda felt something inside her explode as the giddy fool continued on, examining the one thing keeping her husband alive; technology already stretched to its very limits with what little power it had remaining. The amount of charge she had been able to secure on Earth was woefully inadequate.
The Racer was almost upon them… even in this time suspended realm, he approached as fast as she could walk. The immortal body of a New God would not allow them to survive the sort of wound Black Adam had inflicted when he had pushed steely fingers through Scott's ribcage, attempting to crush his still beating heart. Barda hoped against all hopes that this would not be the last living memory she would have of her husband as Lightray continued to fondle the Mother Box, the Black Racer now only an arm's length away…
Desperate, she sprung at Orion's fair lover, covering the distance between them in a single, mighty bound. Her arms extended to remove this light-haired fool from the path of Death's Avatar before it was too late. She did not wish anyone, especially Orion, the pain she must endure when the Racer finally laid his cold hand upon Scott Free…
Perhaps it was Orion who screamed 'NO' behind her, she could not recall.
Her hands never encountered Lightray. The New God simply vanished milliseconds before she could reach him. Instead, something brushed by her, extinguishing the passions of her raging heart, cooling her fire until she felt cold… Overwhelming numbness spread through Barda akin to powerful venom as her consciousness waned… as though the switch of her life had now been turned off and only the brief reflections of light remained to replay images from her past… now claimed by darkness. Tightening. One last thought…
This was death.
And then something called her back.
Shivering and weak, she found herself cradled in someone's arms... alive once more. Instinctively, she realized that it was the Black Racer himself who had brushed past her as she had flown through the air over Scott's body. The hazy image before her eyes now refocused itself into the face of… Lightray?! It was his arms that held her. His foolish grin had been replaced by a look of concern as he stared down at her.
"Too close a brush with the Black Racer by far, Princess."
It was all she could do to say his name, a whisper meant to be a scream…
"Scott."
Only then did the warrior of Apokolips feel the small, gentle hand that rested on her forehead. The hand that had melted the cold venom in her veins… spreading warmth through her mind and consciousness… Slowly, she turned her head to find Raven standing beside them; it had been this small woman's touch that had called her back from the very brink of death.
"Scott is alive, Barda… Are you alright?"
"I think I was dead…"
"As close to death as your husband ever was… You threw yourself in front of the Black Racer to save Scott and Lightray … That was very courageous, Barda."
"Not courageous… desperate… You can put me down now, Lightray. "
"Thank the Gods! I don't think my arms could bear to hold you up any longer!"
Barda was about to break his jaw for that comment when she thought better of it… as inadvertent as his actions had been, Lightray's reckless prodding had apparently swayed the Fates in Scott's favor. She could allow the bright fool one flippant comment… but only once.
"Be mindful of theway your tongue flaps when I decide to slam your mouth shut… You may bite it off."
A strong hand placed itself firmly upon Barda's shoulder to steady her as she stood once more. Mighty Orion…
"He only plays at the fool, brave Barda. Do not let his act anger you. There is nothing of weight to his chatter."
"Such little effect would you also assign to my tender whispers, cruel Orion?" Lightray inquired of the Dog of War.
"I assign worth to deed, noble Lightray. And you have proved yourself a true friend to Barda, as she - in her desperate actions - has shown friendship for you. Behold…"
They followed the hand of Orion to the Mother Box on Scott's chest to witness an unexpected miracle. The device… was transforming. Circuitry grew over Scott Free's torso, binding itself to his gaping wound.
Tiny wires wove into flesh, meshing machine with God as the mortal lesion now became artificial flesh and apparatus. Barda stared in disbelief as her old Mother Box made two 'PING' sounds as she witnessed the healing transformation of her old device reach completion. In her heart, she knew these two simple chirps meant 'Farewell'. It was leaving her to join with her husband, to replace the Mother Box that had sacrificed itself to save Scott during his greatest battle…
The Mega Rod she now held also made two 'PING' sounds to acknowledgment the transformed Box that had become one with her Scott. They were paired; as husband and wife, warrior and ruler, so too were their Mother Boxes who had now committed to one another. She turned to Lightray in astonishment…
"…What did you do, Lightray?"
"Princess… I'm afraid I am allowed to do nothing. Fate itself prevents me from interfering with the weave of destiny controlling the lives and deaths of those of Apokolips. But… it has been told to me on occasion that the bountiful energy which courses through my body may have strange effects on Mother Boxes, allowing them to draw energy from my very presence. Perhaps… however inadvertently on my part and within the sublime mysteries of Fate, that is what has happened here…"
A sudden gasp from the God of Freedom now riveted their attention to Scott as his eyes popped open with the rapid intake of air. Lightray's surprise at this recovery allowed Barda to take him off guard in a massive bear hug, the only woman to have held him since his mother…
"You may insult me until the ends of Eternity you fantastic man!"
Lightray dangled a full foot off the ground in her mighty embrace as he saw the tears of joy now spill from her eyes. She beamed a wide grin as she let him drop to the ground, turning and almost flying to Scott's side in happy steps. As Orion had hidden his love within a warrior's heart, he understood now that this too was the heart of Barda, passion beneath the shield. But there could be no hiding her pure love for the God of Freedom any longer.
Scott slowly reached up to grasp Barda's hand, speaking slowly as he looked at her through his soft eyes…
"How fortunate… I am… it is not the…Black Racer… but a beautiful Valkyrie… who has come to take me… to the afterlife."
"Scott…" She kissed his hand five times before pressing it to her cheek. "You can never do that to me again."
"My... Barda?..."
"Your Barda, Scott. It's me… you're alive. Thank the Gods, you're alive…"
Scott Free slowly raised himself into a sitting position, with assistance from his wife to look down at the Mother Box that had molded to his chest.
"This was yours, Barda."
"It is yours, my love… A thousand times yours! I would have given much more than this to see you live again. Your father… our father gifted me with this Mega Rod, to allow my old Mother Box to chose you, Scott… with help from Lightray." Barda pointed to the white garbed God.
"If but the Fates had allowed, son of Izaya, Lightray himself would have awoken you with a passionate kiss..."
"And this…" continued Barda (deftly avoiding Lightray's verbal jousts) " …is Orion."
Scott slowly rose to his feet as Barda continued to steady him. The helmeted Dog of War strode confidently towards Scott Free to take his arm in friendship.
"Few have worn their heart so openly and lived to tell the tale… a tale of battle these ears long to hear when there is time for it, Scott Free."
"Gladly, Orion. I thank you and your comely friend for your aid… It is strange that we should finally meet, the two bartered sons of The Pact."
"Aye… brothers in fate."
During this reunion, Raven had stepped over to her mother, Arella, who stood silently alone. Her silence hid her pain from most. This woman had known true tragedy her life, both as Angela Roth and Arella. A victim of Trigon's lust and a refugee to a strange land, the become the only surviving member of Trigon's return. Raven knew that in her mother's mind, she had been reliving the horrors of Azarath's last moments – as the Nebu demons tore her gentle friends and neighbors limb from limb.
Plagued by guilt since her inception, Arella had tried to love Raven as best she could. She had tried to fit into this strange, ancient land while protecting her daughter from the persecution of her peers. Even Arella secretly feared what Raven could become… a secret she could never hide from the empath Raven.
There were many among her home world that believed Raven was a harbinger of evil, that the child should have been cast through the Great Door at birth. Arella had begged them for their acceptance, to spare the child for the goodness within her. It had taken Raven many years of study with masters to allow that goodness to thrive and enable her human half to maintain her emotions.
In the end, it had not mattered.
"Mother, what is it you fear?"
"A premonition of fiery death, my child… Perhaps it is only the strains of magic, but I felt the burning within me."
"Perhaps the will of Trigon plays tricks with your mind?"
"Perhaps… But there is something wrong here. I have not felt a fear like this since Trigon darkened the Doorway of shining Azarath."
"I too feel the unrest of the spirits… anger and fear." Raven closed her eyes and concentrated. "There is a stranger here… a terrible stranger. They worry for the Lord of this land…"
Unexpected tremors now shook the earth they stood upon. Raven caught her mother before she fell, feeling Arella's fear intensify. A great bellow from the skies drew their attention to the west where the great drama played out on the horizon before them…
An old giant with a small scythe, who must be the Lord of Elysium, Cronus! Truly, he was enormous! Even miles away, they witnessed every tensed muscle of the Titan, father of the ruling Gods of Olympus. Before him, also growing to an enormous size was the reason for his devout anger, stone-faced Darkseid! Both were now hundreds of feet tall, facing one another, with the Titan screaming at the Lord of Apokolips.
"Leave this place, evil one! This land is for the dead!"
As the giant Titan waved his scythe threateningly, a calm Darkseid replied in words and deed - Omega beams shooting forth from the evil God's crimson eyes to disintegrate the Titan's neck, severing its head from the body…
"So be it, old one."
The spirits themselves began to wail in a chorus of woe – swaying in the wind that now buffeted Elysium. Panic, sorrow, fear and hatred filled the air around Raven as she recalled with horror the last words spoken to her from the dread Lord of Apokolips…
"...I shall await your departure, Raven Wayne"
Darkseid had followed them. Their battle would not be begun without him! And he wanted Scott and Barda returned to Apokolips to Granny Goodness. Raven had no idea of how to stop such an evil, imposing force…
Raven's train of thought was broken when a Boom Tube opened in the air before them. Casually stepping through its entrance was gray Darkseid, now his normal size which was still as tall as Barda and three times as thick. In his hand he inspected the decapitated head of Cronus before addressing the group…
"I apologize for the delay… I was detained."
As an empath, Raven had felt evil before. But the evil she had felt was never like this! This was a supreme wickedness that would conquer all joys, transforming bright emotion into defeated hopelessness for its amusement. It was a greed, a lust for power unlike any she had ever known. The demon rallied within her as she fought to keep it contained, desire to join a kindred fiend…
"Darkseid…" Orion's glare almost blazed at his father as he hissed his name, "You are not welcome here."
"Yes…" Darkseid examined the head of Cronus once more… "So I've been told. But do not worry, cur… I have only come to collect my wayward son… and his conniving bitch."
"I will die first!" It was Barda who stepped in front of Scott, her Mega Rod leveled at Darkseid ready to fight.
"Easily arranged..."
"Lord Darkseid…" Raven had to use all her control to approach the God of Evil as fires burned within her soul, trying to tear her apart. "My request still stands. We welcome your aid to face my father…"
Any further words left her as Darkseid stepped forward to place his huge, dark hand upon her cheek. The demon inside her became orgasmic at his touch - even if she herself were repulsed.
"My child… Your father is a matter that requires… study. My brother is a matter to be taken seriously. He is as much a child of the Infinity Pit as am I… and has employed some new stratagem to increase his power even further. It is my fear there is the power our father Yuga Khan in him…"
"Brother?..." Raven stared incredulously at the scheming Darkseid.
"Yes Raven… You know I speak the truth. You are my niece. A true-born Princess of Apokolips… Return with me to your Kingdom and surrender doomed Earth to Drax. Come with me and I will allow treacherous Barda to be your bride's maid so that it can never be said that noble Darkseid has not shown mercy. Cruel Fate has cursed me with an idiotic useless lump of flesh that I must name as my first-born son, Kalibak. But with your powerful mind, beauty and spirit, perhaps something may be made of that most unfortunate blood line after all…"
"I am already married… Uncle."
"You are a God, Raven. Gods do not marry mortals…" Darkseid turned his eyes to gaze upon Arella, a sneer spreading across his wicked mouth. "They have dalliances."
Anger flashed across Raven's indigo eyes as she calmly took Darkseid's hand and removed it from her cheek. Uncle and niece locked stares… neither turning aside. Her mother had suffered far too much under the brutality of Trigon to be insulted in this manner.
"I am married... and I am my mother's daughter. If you choose not to aid us, then depart. We will not delay you any further."
"Impertinent child! It is your mother's flesh that taints you thus…. Let a kind uncle free you of its burden to reveal the true power you struggle to bury inside… I will configure my Omega beams to only burn away the pale weakness that the woman has birthed… to reveal your father's daughter."
"No Darkseid. I will destroy you myself before I allow this to happen!" Orion raised the hammer of Thor to his father…
"Can you break the Pact that Fate itself has made, Orion? Are you beyond destiny? Unless you are, your words are as empty as your head. I grant you free return to Apokolips though… To end our Pact. But promptly return here so that you may witness your cousin's true birth before I happily destroy you. Bring your slobbering lapdog as well… there is a fire pit in Apokolips awaiting him..."
Raven jolted as Barda's thunderous strike landed upon Darkseid with her Mega Rod. Raven clamped her ears with her hands from the echoes of the crushing impact. She had swung well over Raven's head - as Darkseid was much taller than she - with a force that would have toppled a mountain. The God of Evil flew backwards as Barda let out a warrior's yell, watching her opponent simply come to a skidding halt on his backside. Dark, crimson energy burned in his eyes…
"You dare, woman! You shall know a pain like none other has ever experienced!"
Raven could feel Darkseid's immortal hatred saturate the air around them. Instinctively, she backed away from Barda, fearing to be caught in the ensuing battle and equally fearful for her friend Barda. The Lord of Apokolips was a foe that had never been defeated for one reason only… His power was beyond compare.
Orion was shaking with anger as Lightray pleaded with him not to return to Apokolips and break the Pact. That it was Darkseid's ultimate plan to use him this way. Raven had retreated towards her mother while her frightened eyes never left brave Barda, who pointed the Mega Rod at herself - its beams struck her yellow and blue Apokoliptian armor as she struggled to remain standing from its effects.
Powerful red Omega Beams emitted from each of Darkseid's eyes while the spirits in Elysium died from intent. The power of one thousand crimson lightning bolts hit Barda full on her armor as she was thrown from her feet, tossed like a child's toy, spiraling sixty feet through the air…
The Female Fury did not land well as she rolled and tumbled across the plain, but she was... alive! Darkseid's Omega Beams had the power to disintegrate any matter, even the former God of Time had fallen before them. Coming to a stop in the distance, Barda unsteadily took her feet once more, her molten armor now in tatters, falling from her chest as she struggled to stand, smoke rising from her.
"Well done, warrior of Apokolips. Granny has taught you well…" The smile returned to Darkseid's evil visage. "Using the Mega Rod to increase the density of your armor to such a level! A trick well played girl, but such a trick may be played only once. You are the first to survive Darkseid's Omega Beams, but you will not survive a second time…"
Raven's mind spun frantically in circles as she contemplated what she could do… She could transport Barda, but Darkseid had said that his Omega Beams could track their target across the Universe! She could not pull the God's soul from him, he was far too powerful. And he was beyond reasoning now… She watched the fire build in the dark Lord's eyes one more time, as she watched Orion and Lightray powerless to intervene and Barda only manage to stumble forwards…
"STOP!"
All motion in Elysium came to standstill. In a land that had not aged for millennia, time now froze within its shores. The winds ceased as the dust that Barda's tumbles had disturbed remained suspended in the air. Raven knew the powerful voice who had issued the supreme command…
Scott Free.
She watched as the nearly naked New God strode across the grass to address the Lord of Apokolips, the Omega fires still glowing in his eyes.
"DARKSEID… LEAVE US."
Motion returned to Elysium as Raven watched the grass pull away from Scott Free while she herself resisted a tremendous urge to leave. A Boom Tube opened behind Darkseid.
"The Anti-Life Equation… Under my very nose all this time… Cherish it while you can, Scott Free. We will meet again and the father will claim what is rightfully his." Darkseid's mouth twisted into a frightening, scornful grin as he backed into the Boom Tube, the Omega fires burning in his hateful eyes…
"But as a parting gift to my niece…"
Raven watched as Omega Beams fired directly at her while Darkseid entered the Boom Tube. She was frozen in place with only a single thought coursing through her mind…
'… to reveal your father's daughter.'
The demon within her held her steadfast, there would be no vanishing tricks this time. It had seized its greatest opportunity to be freed of the mortal woman who had bound her, to gleefully evict the thousand souls she held. Weak flesh and meaningless love would be torn asunder to reveal Trigon's daughter, the crimson heir of Apokolips, born of Omega Beams…
Raven watched in horror as she saw her mother suddenly jump in front of her, her arms raised to defend Raven from the deadly Omega Beams, hit Arella full force. Mere inches before her eyes, her mother - the woman who had done nothing but protect her all of her life, who had fought for Azarath until the terrible end witnessing untold tragedy – disintegrated.
Raven watched, time standing still once more, as Arella's flesh became nothing more than a red glow while her bones fragmented and crackled in deadly energy to become nothing more than black smoke. She didn't even realize who was screaming until she had to gasp for another breath to scream again…
Four Gods gathered around her in solace, but it would be numbed moments before she even knew they were there, that they had spoken words to her…