Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story

"Relatives"

Earth Y

The farm was amazing. No doubt of that. Bigger than the one that she'd shared with Flash, where she and her husband raised April and Rick.

Dale observed plains sprawling left and right, little stacks of hay gathered in the gold sun. She sat beside Duffy on a log by a creek, pausing to consider all the girl had said.

Duffy was the daughter of this world's Dale — her only child, with the native Flash. It'd stunned Dale to learn that there were other dimensions, other Dale Gordons, much like herself. It pained her to know that another had passed; Dale of Earth Y was no longer alive. That was why Duffy had brought her here. The teen wanted Dale as a mother now.

"I know you have a family on Earth B, people who are going to miss you there." Duffy was staring at her twiddling hands, sporting a tee over ebony pants. "They healed before, and they'll heal again. They've had more time to cope than we have. We only lost you a couple months ago."

"You didn't lose me, Duffy." Dale hesitated. She had to make sure she was sensitive. "The reality is...I'm not your mom."

"You can be, though."

"It's not that simple." She touched her hand. "I can't just come here and take her place. You only think so because I look like her. It isn't one's appearance that matters most. You loved your mother for who she was." Dale shook her head. "She and I are bound to have differences."

"You might have a few similarities too." Duffy was blushing. She licked her lips. "Listen," she muttered, "I'm not trying to make you somebody you aren't, and I'm not trying to hold you prisoner. I know how that feels. It happened to me."

Dale shook a little after hearing that. Even though they didn't really know one another, she didn't want the child mixed up in strife.

"But now that you're here — 'til the portal reopens — we might as well spend some time together."

Dale recalled the estimate that Rick gave her, the very thought of which made her quiver again. She couldn't truly be here for twenty years.

Duffy started kicking at a tiny twig. "If you don't want to talk...I understand. The thing is, though..." She quieted. Something was clearly disturbing her. She didn't want a mother, she needed one. "I'm not too sure of what to do right now. I really messed up before I brought you here."

"What do you mean?" Dale moved a tad closer.

"Ming killed Mom...so I killed him."

Dale's frame stiffened as the words sank in. None of her attention was divided now.

"I saw him on a mission in the Bandar village. He aimed at me, so I got in his head." Duffy had mentioned her telepathy. "I could have just taken him prisoner. Instead, I forced him to walk off a cliff."

Part of Dale felt a bit of satisfaction. She was glad to know the other Dale was avenged, but she was rather sorry that this child had done it.

"The world is in jeopardy because of me. With Ming removed, our team broke up. The other Defenders walked away too soon. They didn't take Krotan seriously. Kit and his father both flew back home. LJ and Lothar left the country too." She frowned a bit. "Then me and Dad moved back out here. We tried to dissuade everybody from leaving, but nobody wanted to listen to us."

Dale found herself quite disturbed by that. There were other dangers, apart from Ming, assuming this dimension was like her own. A world without Defenders was a world in peril, at least for the time being anyway.

"We still have some weapons and equipment here. That's how I learned that you were on Earth B. But me and my dad are just a couple of people. We need a whole team to defend the Earth." She cupped her hands quite tightly now. "If the world gets invaded, it's all my fault."

Dale paused a moment, then stroked the girl's chin.

Duffy beheld her with a look of surprise, letting Dale's hand linger on her face.

"You sound a little bit like my daughter April." She lowered her hand. "From what I've heard, she scolded herself when I was captured by Ming, placing all the blame where it didn't belong. I'm going to repeat what I said to her: when our enemies choose to do the wrong thing, the fault lies with them, not with you."

Duffy's mouth opened. She looked a little touched.

"That's certainly true," a male voice said.

Turning around, Dale saw a figure in a curtain of sun — a dark silhouette in a wide round hat.

Flash stepped forth, out of the light, eyeing her with an expression of awe. He sure had the look of someone who'd retired, sporting a beard and a farmer's shirt — thick and flannel, with numerous stripes. "Dale..." he whispered.

"Flash..." she said. He wasn't her Flash, but this was nice. "I...I..." She took a slow breath. "I'm not the person you think I am. I'm from Earth B."

"I know," he answered, turning toward Duffy. "She wasn't supposed to bring you here."

Duffy's lips shook. "I'm sorry," she uttered. "I had to meet her."

Flash looked them over, then touched his hips. "This might be a good thing for everyone."

Ten minutes later, he held his phone out on a video call, letting his friends around the world see Dale.

"Incredible..." Lothar replied.

"It's stunning news," the Phantom remarked.

"Indeed it is," Mandrake said.

Flash swung the camera back on himself. "Do you see now, guys? We can't disband. We've got proof that people can travel through portals. What if we're invaded by hostiles next?"

Dale could see Mandrake look a little unsettled. After a few seconds, the magician spoke. "You have a point. We need to consider reuniting soon."

Duffy looked relieved.

"Dimension B is closed off from here..." Duffy fell quiet, then eyed the floor. "But you might make it into Dimension K."

Flash made a nod, staring at Dale. He looked like he didn't want to let her go. Seconds later, he pressed a remote, and a cockpit opened — the door to the cruiser that Duffy had flown.

Dale took a breath, preparing herself. She was heading off into a different world, once again.

She shifted her attention to the girl at her side. "I know you didn't have to tell me about this. In the end, you acted selflessly."

Duffy blushed a tad.

"I'm proud of you — and she'd say the same."

Duffy hugged Dale, and Dale hugged back. Flash stepped in, embracing them both.

Afterward, Duffy faced Flash, holding his arms. "I love you, Dad." A couple tears shone. "I'm going to my room." The girl ran out, leaving the barn, exiting through a small door at the back.

Dale stared on.

"She'll be okay," Flash remarked.

After they'd chatted for a couple more minutes, Dale turned back toward the large barn door, the one she was ready to fly through now.

A cluster of pops rang off in the air. They sounded like they were directly outside.

Dale hit the deck immediately. Flash was down too, pulling a weapon.

"Who?" she asked.

"I've no idea!"

The popping faded. Flash got up, moving cautiously to investigate.

Dale followed him, watching his back.

"Duff!" Flash shouted to the unseen girl. "Stay in your room!" He rushed outside, aiming his weapon — then lowered it with a small sigh of relief.

Dale looked on, making a scowl. She saw a small collection of firecrackers.

"She still likes to play with those once in a while," Flash remarked as he sheathed his gun.

Once they had gone back into the barn, Dale stroked his chin and put a peck on his cheek. "Take care, fly guy." She hopped in the cruiser. The barn door opened.

Flash moved away and waited right outside.

Glancing at the scenery one last time, Dale pressed the lever, and took to the sky. She saw Flash watching her leave as she rose, then focused her attention on the thinning clouds.

Once she was up in the stars again, she spotted the portal, right on time, waiting where the ship's scanner said it'd be.

"And here we go," she told herself.

Dale accelerated, and sped through the cloud.

Dimension K

Dale stopped directly near the orbit of Earth, then pushed her craft down onto the world.

"What in..." She paused while beholding the sights. This wasn't what she had expected to see. The planet wasn't like the one from which she'd came. It looked exotic. It looked medieval.

Then she heard a rustle from the seat in the back, the one with a cover resting over the chair. Dale paused the flight, drawing a gun. "Don't move!" she shouted, removing the cover.

"Wait!" said the girl. "It's only me."

Dale scowled a little. "Duffy?" she whispered.