Wildstorm Stories

Rebuilding

The Monitor of the Fiftieth universe frowned disapprovingly as he shifted through the wreckage left by the great disaster, a regal figure in science-fictional looking armor. The gods had seemingly left this universe behind, their final acts breaking their toys and leaving only chaos and confusion in their wake. The Monitor did not have to repair the damage, of course, but watching a world of ruins would be a waste of time.

The Monitor reached through the fabric of the universe, seeking a certain thread, and in moments a dazed looking man appeared before him. His brown hair fell into wide eyes, and he floated in the void in a state of shock.

Jeroen Thorndyke, also known as the Doctor, looked around him as he muttered, "Either this is the worst trip ever or I'm back in the superhero biz."

"I am the Monitor of this reality, and I need your assistance, Doctor, if we are to save it," the Monitor told him calmly.

"Why me?" Jeroen complained as he adjusted his round spectacles, "I was a mess as the Doctor. Hell, I'm dead, I think!"

"Death is not necessarily an obstacle," the Monitor noted. He tilted his head as he asked, "You will not help?"

Jeroen frowned, but seemed to take in the strange unreality they floated in, looking over the universe. "Damn, it's a mess," he noted, "beginnings and ends don't match up, people in impossible eras, some dead then not with no explaination..."

"Indeed," the Monitor agreed, "the people of the universe are suffering."

"I can't fix it alone," Jeroen noted, frowning thoughtfully, "this time/space/dimension stuff is all a bit beyond me."

"Then I will bring another expert," the Monitor noted, gesturing.

In a flash of pink she appeared in the emptiness, the silver skinned figure looking startled as she looked around. Nikola Hanssen looked around her in confusion, the silvery skin of Void flowing over her body. "I was on the Carrier, trying to fix the universe," she blinked, trying to figure out what was going on.

"It has been several years since then," the Monitor nodded towards the wreckage of the universe, "things have not gone well."

Nikola took in the rubble of the universe, her inhuman perceptions opening up to see the tangled webs and damaged logic. "It's horrible," she murmured.

"That it is," the Doctor agreed, "which is why we've gotta try to fix it."

The Monitor watched as she instantly agreed, but then the two fell into a argument over ways and means. Jeroen asserted that they needed to restore the universe to what it was, while Nikola wanted to try to make it a better place for mainstream humanity.

"Right now the humans you care so much about are diggin' through rubble looking for food," Jeroen noted dryly. He shrugged as he added, "Say what you will, but even with all the crazy superheroes running around at least we kept this sort of thing from happening."

"True enough," Nikola conceded, wondering if her attempt to 'reboot' the universe had actually lead to this mess. "So, can we just put everything back?"

"Don't think so," Jeroen frowned as he studied the tangled ball of space time, reality alternity stuff that was floating in the emptyness, "There are pieces damaged and missing." He looked at the Monitor, "You wouldn't have files on our world, would you?"

"I do," the Monitor admitted, "but I would be breaking my people's rules if I let you look at them." He smiled slightly, "But I think these might be useful."

In a burst of light a pile of books dropped to the 'floor' they were all floating on. Nikola picked one up, blinking at the cover, "Planetary?"

Jeroen snapped up a book, looking at it wide eyed. "Holy shit, it's a Planetary Guide." When Nikola looked at him blankly he explained, "The Planetary Guide is published yearly, to a very exclusive set of people. It's the secret history of the world, which nobody but the few who experience it and Planetary know about."

"So we can use these...," Nikola brightened.

"To help rebuild history," Jeroen nodded eagerly, "and I can consult with the previous Doctors too, for more information." He looked at the Monitor and asked, "I assume you'll let us grab others, if we need them?"

"If needed," the Monitor frowned faintly.

Together they worked, Nikola and Jeroen combining their powers to restructure the damaged, badly broken universe and restoring to some sense of normalicy. It wasn't quite what it had been in earlier times, but it seemed stable and largely freed of the chaos that had surrounded it.

"That's done it," Nikola finally sighed tiredly, the silver skinned woman nearly drooping in exhaustion as they gazed out at a blue green Earth recovered from the disasters that had struck it so recently. Along with the usual space junk the Carrier circled it protectively, as did the United Nations space station Skywatch.

"You do good work," Jeroen clapped her on the shoulder. He frowned slightly, "Too bad we couldn't find what was left of my successor."

"Then I guess that means you're back on the job, Doctor," Nikola smiled at him tiredly. She got up from where she was kneeling on the 'floor' and stretched tiredly. She looked at the Monitor, "Thank you for what you did, bringing us here to fix everything."

The Monitor shrugged slightly, as if it wasn't important. "I will return you to the world below," he gestured, "but I suspect we'll meet again."

Alone once again the Monitor focused his perceptions on the universe and it's Earth, trying to get the 'high points' as it were...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

In a prehistory dating long before human history, the Daemonites and Kherubims fought a war in the stars, ships flashing and dying in the void. Eventually the war would come to Earth's solar system, where two mighty vessels crashed, the survivors spreading out across the planet.

Daemonites and Kherubims continued their war on earth covertly, even as they bred with receptive humans and generated superhuman potential in their offspring. Alongside them heroes were born of chance and fate, some fighting beside the aliens, some against and others for their own side. The impact the aliens had on history was immense, even from those 'responsible' enough not to interfere too directly.

An added wild card were the mysterious 'century babies,' children born to embody forces and concepts and meant to protect humanity. The Doctor, various Jenny's and other beings appeared again and again, watching over their fellows.

The Twentieth century saw the rapid birth of superhumans, caused by alien DNA and outside factors like mysterious comets, extradimensional energies and the Gen factor. Team Zero, Team One and eventually the infamous Team Seven left their marks on the mid century, and into the future.

The United Nations, realizing the potential both for good and harm that superhuman's represented, formed the UN agency 'Stormwatch.' Recruiting from those touched by the 'Comet Effect' along with other superhumans they established the primary superhuman peacekeeping organization, but ironically also kicked off a superhuman arms race as countries and organizations all fought to establish their own forces.

As the Twentieth Century drew to a close the mysterious Elijah Snow and his Planetary organization faced the Four and paid a terrible cost. But even without their leader Planetary fought on, determined to prevent the greedy Four from denying the wonders of the Universe to the common man.

The covert war between the Daemonites and Kherubims exploded into the public eye as the Wild C.A.T.s formed for mutual protection and to foil the schemes of the Daemonites. Lord EMP aka the midget Jacon Marlow formed the team both to protect himself and to learn more about his past, a past that for now was a frustrating void.

International Operations, a covert group working for the United States, felt the lack of a superhuman team and set out to create their own, gathering the children of Team Seven. However this 'Gen 13' as they came to be called proved uncooperative, eventually escaping the IO facility with original team member Lynch and going rogue.

Stormwatch faced many challenges and threats, but the attack of a alien xenomorph nearly ended the team. In the aftermath, Century Baby Jenny Sparks took the survivors of Stormwatch and created the Authority, basing themselves in a alien super-carrier floating around the Earth.

The Authority were originally hailed as great heroes, stopping three planetary threats. However, when the team overthrew a military dictatorship, much alarm was felt by several nations. Under pressure from the United States, China and Russia the UN refinanced Stormwatch, one of their unofficial duties to be a possible deterrent to Authority attempting another regime change.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Monitor drew back his consciousness, even as he returned to his unique ship. 'The world isn't what it was,' he mused, 'but at least it's stable once more.' He would need to study it closer over time, but for now it would wait. He needed to check with the Monitor of New Earth, letting him know about the changes here and how they might impact his own universe.

There was much to do, and many wonders still to see...

End

Notes: 'The gods had seemingly left this universe behind, their final acts breaking their toys and leaving only chaos and confusion in their wake. ' refers to the Worlds End event and the decision by DC comics to shut Wildstorm down.

I always liked Jeroen Thorndyke, so I brought him back as the Doctor. Nikola Hanssen appeared from her role in Captain Atom: Armageddon. The relaunch of WildStorm in 'Worldstorm' was a good IDEA, but in practice it was horribly flubbed. Therefore I included it in the list of things to 'fix' to put the world back together.

I had them get the Planetary Guides because I love the series Planetary, honestly. I was disappointed to see it not even get mentioned in the Wildstorm reboot, though in my opinion it should stay unchanged. Elijah may even be aware of both reboots, which would make a interesting story to write...

Regarding Stormwatch: I had no problem with the disbanding of the team at the end of Ellis' run, but I never saw them staying disbanded. ESPECIALLY after messing with a country's government. Despite the UN not being able to 'afford' Stormwatch, I could easily see China and the US throwing money at the UN to get the team going again.

Regarding Gen 13: I'm really torn about bringing back the original run of the series or following Gail Simone's reboot of the title. I like both, especially the Adam Warren written Gen 13 issues, and I'm not sure which I would want to feature.

I may or may not continue this in some form. Depends on interest and if I get inspired.