Chapter Summary

Previously, Mxy fled the scene when a Grand Worm decided Clark would make a good meal. Superman isn't feeling so super at the moment. Luckily, Meryl came to the rescue, guns ablazing.

Now, a new intergalactic villain (and businessman) begins to scheme. The Cluster makes its first move.

—T&J—

In the far reaches of the universe, a peculiar space vessel the size of a large moon orbited a backwater planet hidden away in a remote solar system.

The host planet had been a very recently prosperous, resource-rich alien world. Recently, as in about less than fifteen minutes ago.

Its citizens gazed up in awe–not the good kind–crying out to the uninvited world ship perched predatorily above their meager atmosphere.

Upon arrival to a new world, the spacecraft known as the Cluster is always a spectacular sight for any halfway intelligent sentient beings. A marvel of scientific and technological engineering, far superior to the majority of space-faring races of the known universe.

The Cluster was aptly named. Its design a conglomerate of shiny platinum spherical stations, all interconnected by jetway tunnels like the strings of a murder board. Each station housed the various product and storage warehouses, processing stations, navigation and acquisitions depots, and other centers needed for the day-to-day operations of the renowned Intergalactic Shopping Network.

Roaming the twenty-eight known galaxies for centuries, the Cluster and its shopping network expanded the interstellar marketplace far and wide, spurring a boon for the galactic economy.

All of which greatly benefited the self-proclaimed master capitalist of all space and time, Lord Manga Khan—almost exclusively to Manga and, of course, his most privileged clientele.

And to the despair and ruin of hundreds of worlds throughout the 3600 sectors of Oan-patrolled space.

Lord Manga provided this latest, unfortunate planet a reasonable opportunity to barter with the Cluster's network. However, its leaders neglected to offer anything of true value to trade. In return for refusing this worldwide-slash-lifetime offer, the Cluster stripped the planet of all valuable resources and left its denizens to suffer for their selfishness.

"...And it's such a shame this lovely little planet declined our most generous offer to barter. However, the raw materials plundered from such a resource-rich world have been more or less adequate. I fear there is still a need for richer energy sources. The Cluster is ever hungry.

"MORE! We need more!"

"Oh, I find myself shouting again." The figure speaking to himself stood at an impressive height, just shy of seven feet.

Clad in gleaming golden armor—an advanced containment suit for his otherwise incorporeal, gaseous essence—and majestic purple cape loomed the master of this world vessel, Lord Manga Khan.

He observed his domain from an upper-level balcony as his plunder moved along a complex conveyor belt system from the intake warehouse to various destinations within his ship. Lord Manga's loyal robots worked methodically at their programmed tasks, mindless drones who carried out their duties without question.

"And where is my attendant? L-Ron!" Lord Manga called without turning from his watch.

A moment later, a feeble bi-pedal robot with bronze plating, an oblong head, and insect-like yellow eye lenses waddled into the observation room.

"Yes, Lord Manga?" the robotic voice was just a hair away from grating on the nerves.

"Ah, L-Ron, my most loyal of servants, most dependable of secretaries, and least insufferable of lackeys," Lord Manga praised.

"Would Lord Manga like to plot a course to the next world queued for negotiations? It has been an hour into your soliloquy, and I know you like to be reminded of your responsibilities," L-Ron replied, well used to the routine with his master. "Also, servant and secretary are most suitable titles… the lackey term is somewhat unnecessary."

"Yes, yes. I'll work on that, lackey," Lord Manga said dismissively. "Now, before the Cluster makes its next jump, tell me… How is the status of our power reserves?" he asked, still gazing down below.

"Our most recent transaction included five hundred and twenty-three curiegrams of promethium, which shall supply enough fuel for approximately four more hyperjumps," L-Ron replied, pulling up some data analytics from the intake report on his holo-tablet.

"Hmm, that is rather dissatisfactory. What are our profit margins for sellable goods?"

"I've estimated a 7.31% profit margin, M'lord," he pulled up the statistics for Manga to review.

The master of the Cluster glanced at the holo-screen. A green gleam flitted from the eyeslits of his faceplace. "7.31%?! NOT ACCEPTABLE!" He cleared his voice. "Ahem, apologies, I started shouting again."

Manga continued, "I am not pleased. I was assured this last planet would yield much higher margins than that," his echoing voice sounding hollow from within his armor. "And the next planet? What sort of energy resources shall I expect? We shall make fuel our top acquisition priority."

"Well, the next…" L-Ron began. A pinging noise from his holo-tablet notified him of an urgent alert. "Hmm, what's this?"

"Yes, well, what is that?" Lord Manga echoed.

"It appears J-Edgar from the bridge has picked up an incredible energy spike originating in space sector 0598, in the Triangulum Galaxy. The solar system there has been declared a non-sapient zone. However, such energy readings are like nothing I've ever seen. The report notes the formation of a rapidly expanding interdimensional rift… Curious, such a rift appears to have an 84% probability of convergence with a previously undiscovered parallel universe."

"Interesting… What sort of energy could cause such a rare phenomenon?" Lord Manga actually turned around, his cape flowing regally. His hands grasped behind his back, and the green glow sparkled behind his visor.

"Fascinating, it appears to be a mixture of 5th-dimensional energy as well as well… another unknown higher dimensional energy not unlike your very own essence. Truly remarkable. M'lord, a combination of energies such as these, if able to be harnessed, would last us decades.., no! Centuries or more!" The robot servant's mechanical fingers twitched oddly, relaying his excitement.

"WONDERFUL!" Lord Manga cried in his delight.

"M'lord. You are shouting again…" L-Ron winced, taking a step back.

"Ah-hmm-hem. Yes, very good L-Ron. J-Edgar deserves a reward for such a discovery. Submit a body upgrade for the minion—" His voice turned more amused as he added, "I've heard the summer models are quite fashionable."

"Right away, Lord Manga," L-Ron replied, tapping his holo-display. "I shall also send hyperjump orders to navigation for space sector 0598 if it pleases you, M'Lord."

"It does! Let us be on our way," Lord Manga agreed. He strode out of the observation room towards the mothership dome and the command bridge. His cloak billowing with his authoritative stride.

L-Ron bowed as his master passed and shuffled along behind.

"Oh, and contact the Czarnian. I believe we'll require his services again," the green glow in Manga's eyes flared as he looked over his shoulder.

L-Ron would've grinned if he had a mouth.

"Certainly, M'Lord."

The airlock doors closed with a definitive hiss and click.

—T&J—

Commander Lois Lane waved a hand over her terminal. Several command prompts appeared, but she stared at the screen, not really seeing it.

The interdimensional rift was growing exponentially. If the squad under her leadership didn't act faster, even more systems could risk getting swept in, colliding in the space where universes merged. A phenomenon like this was almost unheard of. The last time a crisis like this had happened, whole universes were destroyed.

Over a decade ago and a time when another commander was in charge, the current Commander Lane (the Fifth) heard a second-hand account of "The Crisis of Infinite Earths" from the elderly Third. Her universe and dozens of others winked out of existence in the blink of an eye. Only the most fortunate had miraculously survived, fleeing across the multiversal borders as refugees.

Commander Lane gritted her teeth, determined not to let it come to that on her watch. Her eyes flitted back and forth in thought.

Would she need to get The Leagues involved? The Lanterns? The United Planets? If the rift couldn't be stopped from ripping apart two universes, who knew which universes could be next in line. Were a group of humans—a group consisting of just Lois Lanes and James Olsens, even with their starships and advanced tech—enough? Even a Lane couldn't afford such arrogance.

An alert beeping loudly throughout the bridge startled Commander Lane out of her daze. "Alpha 2, report!"

"Ma'am! We are detecting a hyperspace jump arriving in Delta Tri! The craft is on course with the demarcation zone of the rift!" A clean-cut, red-headed James Olsen, or callsign Alpha 2, shouted from his station by the control center. Several other Lois's and Jimmy's hurried about knowing their roles and responsibilities without being directed. A mummer of voices and general noises of a busy command bridge filled the air in a rising hum.

"Can we identify the craft and hail their captain?" Commander Lane stood from her seat to look closer at the display screen.

James swiftly swiped in several commands, reading the screen and pulling up an image on the main display.

"It's…" he began.

"The Cluster," the Commander finished for him. The world vessel was immediately recognizable to the veteran Leaguer.

"What is that greedy gasball up to?" she asked under her breath.

What could he have to gain here?

"Shall we proceed with a hail, Commander?" Jimmy asked.

Damn, would that capitalistic tyrant even heed our warning and obey a command to vacate the system? Doubtedly…

A beat later, with no response, James cleared his throat and prodded his leader. "Uh… Ma'am?"

"Yes, proceed with the hail," she ordered.

"Attempting to open communication channels with the Cluster now, ma'am," he replied, turning back to his console.

They waited.

And waited. A bead of sweat slid down the Commander's cheek. The hum of noise throughout the bridge got quieter and quieter in anticipation.

"The Cluster still hasn't opened…." James began. But as soon as he was about to finish his update, another blaring alert sounded and came up on the display. James's and several other crewmembers' gasps chorused through the bridge.

"Th-the Cluster is passing the demarcation line! Th-they're heading straight into the rift!" James shouted. The collected coolness that the Commander had noticed him gaining over the years failed him as his voice rose in pitch.

At that point, the Commander and the rest of the crew watched the display screen as the view showed the Cluster ship flying steadfastly right into the center of the rift.

Already equivalent in size to the Earth's moon in width, only a tiny portion of the rift could be seen within the viewport along with the bright spherical stations of the Cluster ship.

The border of the rift rippled, actively tearing open the fabric of space before their very eyes. The center was a twisted mess of swirling energies and colors, too abstract and vibrant to stare at directly for long without getting a headache.

As the Cluster drifted into the rift, crackling purplish waves of raw higher dimensional energies reached out like millions of hungry snakes. The ship distorted on the display, like a surrealistic painting mixed with a glitchy computer screen.

The static-like threads of light sparked wildly with indescribable colors, consuming the Cluster in one last flare as it passed through the boundary of the rift.

And with that, the light show ceased, and the Cluster ship was gone.

The rift calmed as it was before–a meandering swirl of colors but otherwise a restful predator satiated with the prey it had just devoured.

Many of the Leaguers stood mid-stride or sat back speechless, jaws hanging open at the reckless audacity–or stupidity–of the captain of the Cluster. He may have just sailed his ship right to its demise. Sunken to the dark depths of the galaxy.

Well, if there were any hope of survival within or on the other side of that rift, Lord Manga Khan and his army of robot wheelers and dealers would be the first to find out.

—T&J—

Notes

Thank for following this story so far! This week is a bit of an interlude for our heroes as we are introduced to our main villain for the story. Mwahaha! For anyone who recognizes Lord Manga, you are a true DCU fan (nerd).

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Keith Giffen, who passed away last year (10/9/23) at age 70. Keith was an American comic book creator, best known for his work on Lobo and the Justice League International. He worked for both Marvel and DC Comics since he was 22 years old.

Lord Manga Khan was also one of his and J.M. DeMatteis's creations. This lesser-known villain snuck his way into this plot as he fits in so well to cause conflict within Trigun's resource-deprived world. Stay tuned for a near future appearance of a more well-known Superman foe (hint hint "Last Czarnian" and "the Main Man").

Tribute to Keith Griffen on