Satisfaction

A Robotech/Marvel shortfic

You can contact me at

tsommer

My works are stored at

and a03

As always I do not own the rights to the numerous characters or series within.

Writer's notes: This is a very brief fic inspired by a certain page in a certain What If?

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

The SDF-1 hung in orbit above the Earth, transformed into its more humanoid battle mode. The Zentraedi fleet was inbound, the destruction of the entirety of humanity their mission. Gigantic minds focused on one purpose, an irresistible force like that of a sun going nova.

But clashes with the titanic aliens had revealed a weakness in their makeup, one the humans, particularly those on board the SDF-1, were ready to exploit. All they needed was that ideal voice which their search had finally discovered.

All of their efforts since then led to this moment. The stage for the performance that was about to begin was specially designed and stuck on the very end of one of the hands, a clear dome allowing the lone figure within the dome to gaze out into the vastness of space. The singer stood there in anticipation, one who would introduce a tune with a voice that could disrupt enemy ships in a way they had never experienced before. Speakers were designed to convert everything to a wavelength that could be transmitted across the vacuum of space and arrive at the estimated point the enemy fleet would appear when it came out of hyperspace.

All of the veritechs deployed (and it was all of them for what might be the final battle of the war) remained behind the space battleship, tiny flies with a sting that could down a small Zentreadi destroyer. But less than flies to the massive beast the incoming fleet represented. No, the battle would be won or lost by the power of song.

Warning claxons rang throughout the ship as gravitational anomalies heralded the arrival of the largest collection of spaceships this sector of space had ever seen.

"Prepare yourself," Captain Gloval warned the only truly effective weapon in their arsenal.

He was met with a thumbs up.

Prerecorded music pumped into the dome for the song that had been chosen in advance. No live band could be expected to perform in the way that was necessary with impending annihilation filling space before them.

A deep breath was inhaled. Then the song began.

"I CAN'T GET NO… SAT…IS…FACTION!"

As every syllable was hurled forth in a cacophony no human had ever uttered, the energy produced was collected by the sound conversion system, retranslated into a form that could cross the soundless vacuum in the form of a focused funnel. It hurled across the void and into the oncoming fleet.

Everywhere the funnel touched matter, the Zentraedi ships shook apart and shattered into a million pieces to scatter through space. As the song continued, the funnel moved back and forth at a range farther than the most powerful Zentraedi weapon, ships by the thousands, then by the tens of thousands, fragmented endlessly, filling the space between moon and planet with debris that would clutter it for decades.

The music died at the same time the last enemy ship did.

Everyone stared at the scene of wanton destruction before them. Some felt nothing but elation at humanity's continued survival. Others would be haunted by the massive slaughter until the day they died. And others would feel every emotion between the two extremes.

The figure in the dome felt elation he had never experienced before. It was the first time he had cut loose and gave it everything he had. And it felt divine. For in truth the dream he had wanted the most had not been that of being crowned King, nor had it been falling in love and having children. No, it had been the one thing upon the awakening of his powers he thought he could never be.

Black Bolt was finally a rock star, baby.

As he basked in a level of happiness he didn't know existed, the warning claxons blared again. Another incoming fleet. Well, he was ready for them.

He gave the signal to start, "Welcome to the Jungle."

Let the Zentreadi come. He'd introduce them to, 'Black Bolt's Playlist To Hell'. AC/DC could eat their hearts out.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[End Shortfic]

A No Prize to you if you remember that page in the comedy issue of What If? 34. The man clearly had music etched in his soul.