Gog Mallor lived on the planet Talok VIII with his teenage daughter, Tasmia. Despite being the eighth planet in the system, the surface of the planet was a hot desert. Recent climate change had made matters worse with famine and all the water drying up. Gog had already lost his wife at this point and the rest of his people. On the hot cracked surface, Gog tried to give his daughter comfort as she lay dying. She was so weak she couldn't even more. Gog was bald with dirty sunburned skin and wearing white rags. He held a necklace to his local god, Talok. Tasmia was in a similar state with long black hair.
All Gog could do was sit against a rock while gently holding Tasmia. He wrote picture graphs on the stone next to him to pass the time and for anyone passing by to remember them after they had passed. Finally, Tasmia died succumbing to her thirst. Gog kissed her forehead and cried in his grief. His prayers had been denied, all hope was lost. He buried the girl in the sand and then slept at the grave waiting for his own death.
A few days later, Gog felt a relatively cooler breeze. He got up and found a lush rainforest not too far away. The forest had not been there the day before. Gog found a stream and dived in. After quenching his thirst and bathing himself, he ate some fresh fruit lying around. "The fuck are you doing?" an annoyed voice asked.
Gog looked up with fruit all over his face. "Look at yourself, eating all my fruit. Who the fuck do you think you are?" a shiny god-like man asked him. The god, Talok, wore a crown that resembled a sun, a collar of gold that went down his chest, gold armbands, and a golden skirt.
Gog immediately bowed his head in worship to him. "Talok, bringer of light. I am Gog, the last of your disciples. We have lost everything. The land is dry, and all life is lost, but our faith in you never wavered. We await the promise of the eternal reward of the virtuous to be the stars of the cool night sky. Forgive us our trespasses as we know the sun becomes hotter and hotter with every damned soul. We know that we have brought this heat upon ourselves with our sin and damnations."
"The fuck?" Talok wondered. "Who told you that? No, there is no eternal reward or damnation. Not for you, anyway."
"We have been starving. My daughter died in your name," Gog said mournfully.
"Yeah, well suffering for your god is kind of your thing. There's nothing after death...except more death," Talok mocked.
"I renounce you," Gog declared.
Talok took Gog by the neck and held him off the ground, there being a significant height difference between them. "I've had enough of your shit, mortal."
Gog's shadow became alive and reached out into the forest. It took hold of a black sword and then brought it to Gog's hand. Immediately, Gog sliced Talok in the neck with it. Talok fell to his knees mortally wounded. "Oh, you're fucked now. You're cursed," Talok told Gog.
"It doesn't feel like a curse," Gog said as his skin became pale white, his veins blackened, and his eyes went orange. "I declare this promise: all gods will die." Gog then sliced Talok's head off.
Random Planet
Garth Ranzz trained his ass off on Earth. He got into shape and improved upon his electrical powers. He gained the trust and confidence of Kara and Mon becoming a commissioned officer in the Vindicator Corps. When he was ready, he served on a ranger team that was composed of Sun Boy, Star Boy, Colossal Boy, Triplicate Girl, and Light Lass, his sister. Technically, Dirk aka Sun Boy was in charge, but Garth gave him little respect or heed. Instead, Garth often was by himself staring off into space in quiet contemplation as the rangers battled all sorts of monsters on various worlds.
"Hey, Garth, we need your help to win this battle. Let's go," Dirk said reluctantly.
"In that case, you better hurry up," Garth said as he streaked to the battlefield. There, evil humanoid owls were using some pagan temple as a shield to fire upon them. "How we doing, rangers?"
"We gonna die!" Thom said anxiously.
"You said this would be a relaxing holiday," Ayala said miffed.
"Oh, stop your bitching," Garth said dismissively.
The alien king and his entourage then showed up. "Lightning Lad, you have finally joined our fight," the king said pleased.
"Better late than never," Garth told him.
"As you know we're a peaceful race. We called upon our gods to help but they didn't answer," the king said.
"No shit?" Garth wondered.
"Our sacred temple is now unguarded, our most sacred shrine, and now evil owls have taken it over," the king said.
"Look, there's only one God...in three persons. You, understand?" Garth told them.
"No," the king shook his head.
"I don't get it either, but it sounds legit. These gods of yours are just posers. Now, watch a real man kick some ass," Garth said to them and then faced off against the evil owls.
Garth powered up with a lightning storm all around him. For reasons unknown, the evil owls left their fortified position to attack Garth directly. Garth fired on several speeders destroying them with streaks of lightning. The evil owls were blasted to pieces upon being struck. For those he missed, Garth sped along the battlefield as a streak of lightning and tore through them at the speed of light. Garth then sped into the fragile temple, itself, and took out the evil owls on the roof. The ancient temple shattered in an electrical storm. Garth then instantly appeared before the king.
"How about that?" Garth asked, pleased with himself.
"You have destroyed our ancient temple that took centuries to build," the king said shocked and appalled.
"Yes, to your fake pagan gods. Now, I'm going to give you the blueprints to make cathedrals for the right god," Garth replied.
"What if we don't want to follow your god?" the king asked.
"Well...we'll have to crusade your ass," Garth frowned.
Earth
As part of the treaty agreement between the Galactic Federation and the Braal Confederacy, Rokk Kirin and his brother, Pol, would be made Vindicators. Rokk was in no mood to train or become acquainted with Earth life. Instead, he entertained treatment for his depression for funsies. After a series of tests at Metropolis General, he met up with Pol who was reading a book.
"Good book?" Rokk asked.
"The best," Pol said, it was a Bible.
"Who wrote it?" Rokk asked.
"God did," Pol said simply. "It's a little tough to understand, especially the hell part. Is it in a pit underneath the crust of this planet or a state of being?"
"Yes," Rokk answered.
"I don't get it," Pol admitted.
Rokk tore a page out of the Bible and folded it. He then stuck a pencil through the folded piece of paper. "Hey, you can't do that to the Holy Bible," Pol protested.
"It won't matter in the scheme of things," Rokk said dismissively. "As you can see, you can fall downward relative to our position toward the core of the planet while also being in a parallel universe," Rokk explained as he placed a pencil through the folded piece of paper.
"What about heaven? Is it the opposite concept?" Pol asked.
"There is no heaven, only damnation," Rokk corrected.
"Damn," Pol said stunned.
"Exactly," Rokk confirmed.
"I wonder if hell is as hot as these hot Cheetos," Pol wondered and had some. "Holy shit!" he realized. "Have you told anyone else you're clinically depressed and borderline suicidal?"
"When people find out, they act queer around you. They seek the knowledge and certainty you possess," Rokk replied.
"Your results say you're Stage 4 depression. One more stage and you suicide yourself," Pol said concernedly.
"I assure you, there are many more stages of depression to be discovered and explored before death is inevitable," Rokk said. "Too many people skip a few stages as they rush to the pit that is oblivion. I intend to experience and enjoy all stages."
"Hey, bro, time-out. I know that your exploration of depressing gothic existence is something you feel you have to do for yourself but you're not getting what the universe is trying to tell you. There's hope," Pol said.
"The universe is full of lies and deception," Rokk countered.
"You don't have to fight this alone," Pol assured him.
"But I prefer to be alone," Rokk told him off.
"Remember when you kicked ass on that Winathian Lightning Lad? Wasn't that fun?" Pol asked him.
"For a moment, I felt truly alive as he managed to actually make me bleed but then all I felt was disappointment at the end," Rokk sighed. "I'll figure out this path of perdition by myself, thank you."
Fortress of Solitude
In the summer months, it was hospitable for travelers to come to the Fortress of Solitude for tourism purposes. At first, tourists just wanted to see the amazing Kryptonian architecture and take a tour of the place. One thing led to another and eventually a large theme park named Kara Land was constructed with the fortress in the middle. Kara Land quickly became populated with a port for cruise ships, an airstrip, and hotels. The theme park included shops, theater productions, and rides. In these theater productions, actors played out scenes from Kara's autobiography in dramatic ways. In one such play, Kara defeated Rhea and her Insane minions.
In a glass case was a collection of green Kryptonite shards for tourists to gawk at. "You can almost feel your life fade away from the intense radiation. Now, let's sample some authentic Kryptonian dragon juice," Brainiac 5 said to a tourist crowd.
Kara, disguised as a normal human, contemplated the glass case of Kryptonite. She placed the green glowing shards in her own fortress as if daring someone to try to end her. It made her feel more alive to be under constant threat of death.
Talok VIII
Gog quickly went to work looking for any survivors on his home planet. With the Necro-sword, his strength had greatly increased. He found a random man in the desert trying to survive a sandstorm. "Why do you walk in this field of empty holes?" Gog asked the man.
"It's all I have," he replied.
"Your pain runs deep. The gods have betrayed you. Come follow me and we will kill all gods, together," Gog offered.
The man cried on his shoulder mournfully. "What power do you have against the gods?" he asked.
"The power within my sword, within myself. And I shall share this power with you," Gog said to him. "But to complete our quest, we'll need a starship."
"There are none here," the man said doubtfully.
"I will bring one here. Trust in me, not the gods," Gog said to him.
Elsewhere on the planet, a Thanagarian, a Brainiac, and a Khund entered a bar. The bar was in a small settlement with weird-ass aliens mixed about, none of which were the native population. The bar was meant to be neutral ground for the purposes of diplomacy in the sector. A Thanagarian woman eyed a Caitian cat-looking alien dancing on the bar and then entered a private room where Brainiac 5 and a Khund general waited for her.
"Gentlemen, I am Corla Tavo," she said as she placed her helmet on the table.
"Welcome. I am Brainiac 5, representative of the Galactic Federation. My charming companion here is Khund consul, Korrd," Brainiac 5 introduced. Korrd proceeded to give a loud burp.
"I hope that's Khund for hello," Corla said annoyed.
"Come in, my dear. We have much to discuss," Brainiac 5 invited.
"Who suggested this shithole as a diplomatic post?" Corla asked.
"Talok VIII wasn't always this way. A dramatic increase in radiation from the star gave this planet a quick death. Still, my drones are not affected by the heat and can sustain operations even without water," Brainiac 5 explained.
Alarm bells went off as a large group of survivors tore down the gates of the settlement and rushed in. The three went outside to see the commotion and then went back inside. Gog then entered the bar with his men. "Thanagarian, Brainiac, Khund," he identified. "You're now my prisoners."
"What value could we be to you?" Brainiac 5 questioned.
"This is the only place in the galaxy that has all three of you," Gog pointed out.
"Our governments will be here soon to kick your ass," Corla said to him.
"I'm counting on it," Gog nodded.
Random Planet
Due to a miscommunication with the natives, they brought a few screaming goats to the Vindicators to be sacrificed. Instead, Garth struck them down with lightning and had a feast. The Vindicators assembled in their Charon-class shuttle for a new mission. A distress call was sent from Tarlok VIII. "Return to Earth for a briefing," Kara ordered.
Earth
Garth arrived on Earth where he met up with Kara and Rokk on an Ares-class battleship. These battleships were not meant for ship vs ship battles but to decimate planetary defenses and bases. The ship was flat on the top with a bridge a T-shaped bridge at the stern. The superstructure of the ship was on the belly of the ship. There, the battleship held numerous missile batteries, laser canons, particle cannons, and pulse canons designed to rain down fire on an unsuspecting planet. The ship also held a large number of anti-fighter batteries. The shield generators on these battleships were the highest yet and its armor was also enhanced from that of the destroyers and cruisers. Its downside is that it was rather slow on impulse. Normally, blasting the fuck out of a planet with indiscriminate fire from space would be considered a war crime but Kara always prepared for desperate times when she would need to "fuck the law".
Ares-class battleships were generally surrounded by an escort fleet of destroyers and cruisers but, in this case, Kara wanted to do a test run all by itself apart from the main fleet. The battleship was named the USS Thor in honor of Norse mythology.
On the bridge, Kara informed Rokk and Garth on what was going on. "We have a situation here on Tarlok VIII. A terrorist force has taken over the settlement, and they've taken hostages: a Thanagarian, a Brainiac, and a Khund."
"Good," Garth said pleased.
"It could give an excuse to trigger a galactic war. I need experienced warriors. I need you, two," Kara said seriously. "We're going to Tarlok VIII to assess the situation and avoid a confrontation if possible. I want those hostages...so they can be my hostages."
"Have the Khund responded?" Garth asked.
"No, but I bet they will," Kara rolled her eyes. "See what I did there? That's foreshadowing."
"It won't pay off," Rokk predicted.
"Hater," Kara said annoyed, and turned to her Asian-looking helmsman. "Val, set a course for Tarlok VIII."
Tarlok VIII
Kara, Rokk, and Garth took a shuttle down the surface just outside the settlement. The planet's moons and the lights of the settlement gave them some light. Kara was able to see regardless in the darkness. "Let's move," Kara said and then flew off. Entering the settlement, Kara saw a bunch of weird-ass black creatures. They appeared as monsters or insects. Kara blasted a creature's head off as she landed. She then kicked another creature into a housing unit. Garth arrived on the scene as a lightning strike and started firing lightning at the creatures.
"What the fuck are these things?" Garth wondered as the monsters disappeared and then reappeared.
"Some kind of shadow clones," Kara figured.
The two fought side-by-side as they punched and fired on the monsters. The two then felt a chill as they heard Rokk's deadpan words. "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." A wave of metal shards blasted through the monsters shredding them up. Garth frowned as he felt he was being upstaged. Like a continuous shotgun, Rokk blasted the monsters to pieces until they were all dead.
Garth then noticed the real bad guy, Gog. He was dressed in a white robe with glowing orange eyes that made him look demonic. In his hand was the Necro-sword. Garth went to attack him only to get bitch-slapped to the ground with the strike of Gog's sword. Garth quickly recovered and backhanded Gog away as he charged him. Garth flew up and tried to land on Gog but missed. Gog grabbed a hold of Garth and dragged him across the ground until he slammed him up against the wall of the bar. Gog placed his sword at Garth's neck for the kill.
"Cool sword, bro," Garth taunted.
"This is going to hurt just a little," Gog threatened.
"What is pain but a construct of the weak...oh, shit," Garth said as Gog had the sword on his throat.
The two struggled briefly until Gog slammed Garth into an old dusty vehicle. Shadow limbs then took hold of Garth pinning him in place to the vehicle. "Don't touch me," Garth told him off as he released himself and headbutted Gog. He then took Gog by the throat and threw him aside. Kara and Rokk then joined Garth to corner Gog.
"What's your deal, asshole?" Kara demanded.
Gog merely gave them all a look of disdain. Garth fired on Gog only for him to disappear in a shadow. The settlement around them suddenly appeared black and white as all color was drained away. Shadow limbs then wrapped around all three of them keeping them still. "Some god you are," Gog mocked Garth.
"You know nothing about me," Garth told him off.
"I went to the gods for help and they did nothing," Gog said pissed off.
"Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is nothing like them," Kara told him.
"What was that?" Gog asked mockingly.
"Jesus is nothing like those other false gods. He's the Prince of Peace," Kara preached.
"Are you for real?" Gog wondered. "Your god failed you, too. Your people were slaughtered by the destruction of your home world and then everyone you ever loved died a thousand years ago. What good are your prayers now? Did you beg your god for help? To bring back the dead? Seems like you were rejected."
Gog then approached Rokk who had an emotionless chill expression. "This one is different. You want to die. We're on the same path. Just as the sword empowered me, metal empowers you, but it will do nothing to change the deep pit of despair in your heart. Kara will use you, but she will not help you. There is no salvation for us."
Rokk said nothing to him. Gog then turned to all of them. "I know your pain, love is pain. I had a daughter once. I put my faith in a higher power hoping it would save her but she died. Now, I understand my daughter is the lucky one. She doesn't have to live in a world of suffering and pain."
"You should join Planned Parenthood's marketing team," Kara mocked.
"A universe run by wicked gods," Gog said to them all.
"Okay, enough bullshit," Garth said as he let loose a lightning surge that blasted the shadow limbs off of him and created cracks along the entire planet.
Gog emerged from a shadow and created more giant monsters. "He makes some fine points, but I think I want to kill him," Kara said.
"I concur," Garth nodded.
Gog appeared before them ready for battle. Garth gestured for him to come at him. While Kara and Rokk dealt with the giant monsters, Garth and Gog clashed. Rokk casually stood as metal shards from the planet's crust rose up and sliced up the shadow monsters. Garth and Kara then joined forces to give Gog a beatdown. Kara landed on top of Gog and knife-handed him to the back. Garth withdrew to deal with the monsters as Rokk was being thrashed. The monsters were evolving as fast as they were getting cut down. One giant monster slapped Rokk to the ground. Garth intervened to defend Rokk while Kara dealt with Gog one-on-one.
"I'm not a god. That sword is going to shit to me," Kara said confidently.
The two clashed repeatedly with Gog disappearing and reappearing within the shadows. He finally got behind her and stabbed her deep in the back. "It would seem there's some god in you, after all," Gog mused as Kara fell hurt.
Garth then fired a lightning strike on Gog which he was able to block with his sword. The lightning strike sparked off the sword and began to burn and tear into Gog's flesh. With a shout of effort, Gog disappeared into a shadow on the ground.
"Suzumushi Tsuishiki Enmakorogi," Gog said as rings were cast from his sword all around them. The rings then emitted a black tent that covered the entire battlefield. Kara, Rokk, and Garth were now deprived of all of their senses.
"What the fuck is this?" Garth wondered as he looked around seeing only darkness. He couldn't even hear his own voice. He suddenly felt his shoulder being sliced open.
"What do you think of a world without gods?" Gog taunted. "Isn't it frightening to behold?" Garth tried to catch Gog only to get sliced to the back. "Useless."
Garth blasted the ground to try to get any kind of hit. Gog avoided the strike narrowly. Garth then used his lightning speed to race around the black void to try to hit anything. Gog struggled to avoid Garth as he moved erratically around him. Gog then sliced through Garth's gut for a killing blow. Garth grabbed Gog's sword hand allowing him to see him clearly. By touching Gog, the ability was broken.
Garth then blasted Gog as hard as he could to his torso while still keeping a good grip on Gog's hand. Gog refused to let go of his sword allowing Garth to blast him again. The black tent then fell down as Gog was mortally wounded. "Good work, Garth," Kara said pleased by his performance. "Your turn," Kara said to Rokk.
"Very well," Rokk said and then created a strong magnetic field around himself and Gog. Within this field were dozens of floating swords made from the metal of the planet's crust. One of the swords then floated into Rokk's hands.
Within the field, Gog's monsters couldn't get through as the rotating swords sliced them up when they tried. Rokk and Gog engaged in their sword battle at an equal level. "You've lost...magneto," Gog mocked as he threw Rokk aside.
"The title is Lord Rokk of House Kirrin, but if your savage mind cannot respect proper honorifics, you can call me...Cosmic Boy," Rokk said to him. The two clashed with their swords and then Rokk kicked Gog to the gut. As Gog went for a wide swing, Rokk blasted a hole through his chest with metal shards in his left hand.
"Scatter," Rokk said as Gog's metal sword was blasted into tiny fragments.
Gog was now on the ground with only the hilt of his sword left. Several floating swords came down on Gog slicing through his feet and hands to keep him in place. Kara walked over to him wincing from her wound. "You're under arrest for seventeen violations of the Neutral Zone treaty," Kara told him.
Gog merely laughed at her and then coughed up black blood. "I know, I know, I'm a funny girl," Kara rolled her eyes. "If you surrender, I'll make your death nice and painless. You think you've had it rough up to now? I'm just getting started."
"You shall have no other gods before me. Do not make any gods to be alongside me. Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold," Gog quoted Exodus.
"Alright, alright," Kara nodded.
"Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces," Gog continued.
"Yes," Kara agreed.
"Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places," Gog quoted Deuteronomy.
"Continue," Kara allowed.
"I believe in no god; you believe in one god. How much similar we are than those who believe in thousands," Gog beseeched her. "Together, we can slay them all and then you can slay me before I take the fight to your own god."
"These gods are just immortal beings with powers, not much different than me," Kara said dismissively.
"Do they not take worship away from the true god with their hubris? I seek a universe with no gods, and you seek a universe where all follow one god. That makes us allies, does it not?" Gog said to her.
"How do you hope to accomplish that? Stealing my ship and killing each of these gods one by one with your sword? No one has time for that," Kara rejected.
"The sword speaks to me. It tells me of a place in the center of the galaxy where the Source is located. There, anyone's wish can be granted," Gog said.
"Really? That sounds like bullshit," Kara doubted.
As they were talking, the metal fragments from Gog's sword came together making it whole. As soon as it was complete, Gog disappeared inside a shadow. "The fuck he go?" Kara asked once he was gone.
Kara, Rokk, and Garth went back to the ruined settlement with a large body count of Gog's followers. "God damn, Rokk," Kara winced as they were shredded to pieces. She found Corla, Brainiac 5, and Koord looking disgruntled. "I will take you home on my ship as my guests," she said to them.
The shuttle they had used to bring them to the surface then took off and went to light speed. "Son of a bitch," Kara realized Gog had escaped with her shuttle.
"You were saying?" Corla rolled her eyes.
"USS Thor, this is Kara. I want another shuttle down to my position," Kara ordered.
"We don't have another shuttle," Val said lamely.
"Fawk," Kara cursed.
Eventually, another shuttle arrived so Kara could transport herself, Rokk, Garth, Brainiac 5, and the survivors on the surface to the USS Thor. In a conference room, Kara had a chat with Rokk, Garth, and Brainiac 5 on what to do. "I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of mass genocide of these so-called gods, especially with it happening under my nose with my shuttle," Kara began.
"Also, if I beat him to the Source, I can have my own wish," Kara said ambitiously.
"What more do you want?" Garth asked incredulously.
"My sister back," Kara said solemnly. There was an awkward silence in the room.
"All scientific analysis of the center of the galaxy points to radiation being so strong it would kill us all. Your ship's shields may not be sufficient. And if the Source is true, it is a power beyond all imagination," Rokk said.
"Maybe Gog will end up killing himself before he even gets close to the Source. Problem solved," Garth considered.
"I don't know. That sword basically turned him into a zombie. He may already be undead," Kara objected. "We can't take that chance."
"What are you proposing?" Garth asked.
"We warn these so-called gods and have them handle it," Kara said. "We're going to Omnipotence City."
"Where is this city?" Rokk asked doubtfully.
"I know where it is," Brainiac 5 said.
The USS Thor exited warp and came upon Omnipotence City, the city of the so-called gods. The city was made of several large super-structures floating in the air in a circle. Attached to these super-structures were bridges leading to city structures inwardly. Thus, the inner space of the city was a complex web of infrastructure skyscrapers. The city was extremely affluent with parks, pools, statues, and gold everywhere. The Thor stayed in orbit above the city while Kara, Rokk, and Garth took a shuttle to what appeared to be the center. After crash landing in a beautiful garden, they took a long walk to where they needed to go. Despite the urgency of the situation, the three casually walked the streets of the god city.
"I've been thinking about a cool catchphrase. Like, 'I'm feeling electric. Current status: strikingly vibrant. Amped for adventure. I'm going to give you the shocker', " Garth said.
Kara gave him a serious look. "The best catchphrase is not about your powers but your life philosophy. What is it that you believe, Garth? What is it that you mock?"
"Understood," Garth nodded.
"How are you and Imra?" Kara asked conversationally.
"Oh, well, I don't really have time for her. I'm so busy with work and training," Garth said.
"Well, if you don't take time to be with her someone else is going to snatch her up," Kara warned.
"I'm not too concerned with that. I mean, our relationship is considered an abomination to both our worlds," Garth said.
"Fine, I guess I'll take her then," Kara said nonchalantly.
"Wait...what the fuck?" Garth wondered.
Kara laughed amused and walked past him. "We should assume this place is invitation only. We should keep a low profile," Rokk advised.
"Good point," Kara agreed and then quickly sped off and returned in a second. She dumped some clothes on the ground.
"Did you just strip people of their clothes and leave them naked in the street?" Garth asked shocked and appalled. "That's like sexual assault or something."
"It's okay because I'm a woman and they were men," Kara downplayed.
Garth put on a golden cloak, Rokk wore a black cloak, and Kara wore a blue and red cloak to help them blend in. The three then entered a large stadium, the temple of the gods. "Holy shit," Kara said amazed. The temple was several stories tall with a large eye-shaped window in the back.
Each box or seat was assigned to a particular god. Kara looked around in amazement as she saw every god of Earth and then many other gods of different worlds. She saw her own god, Rao, appearing in a blue, red, and white suit a distance away. The chief gods of various races were higher up such as Hercules, Hermes, X'Hal, Takion, Shazam, Athena, S'ivva, Rama Kusha, and Metron chilling in his chair. Noticeably absent were the gods of Apokalips and New Genesis and the Amazons.
"This is seriously trippy," Kara said as they took their seats together.
The gods then collectively chanted Zeus repeatedly. A storm cloud appeared inside the stadium and then Zeus appeared with a lightning strike. The clouds gave way showing a suspended golden platform. Zeus sat on his throne with several women, presumably one of them being Athena, who was with him. There was also a teenage boy by his side as well. Kara gave Ganymede an odd look but quickly recovered. Zeus fired a lightning bolt that created an image of himself in pure electrical light.
"Silence!" Zeus ordered. "I hereby open this holy council of the gods. Let's approve the last meeting's minutes."
"So professional, so competent, so majestic," Kara remarked.
"We shall now discuss the urgent matter of where the next orgy will take place," Zeus said.
"The fuck?" Kara wondered.
"And we shall award the god who has the most child sacrifices in his or her name," Zeus continued.
"Oh, wow, he's an asshole," Kara realized.
"It's not going to get better," Rokk said pessimistically.
"Look, I'm not a fan. His lightning techniques don't impress me but maybe we should shut the fuck up and listen right now," Garth scolded.
"Don't tell me to shut the fuck up. I am the queen, the empress, the white savior...," Kara shot back.
"Hey, who's talking?" Zeus demanded.
"Garth, handle this," Kara said as everyone eyed them.
"Shit," Garth realized. "Zeus, let me say it's an honor and a privilege to meet another lightning man like myself..."
"Get your ass down here on the stage," Zeus ordered.
"Damn it," Garth said as he made his way down to the stage. The stage was in the center of the temple with several bridges attached to it as it was suspended in the air. "Mighty Zeus, fellow gods, distinguished guests, I come before you to warn you against Gog, the god-butcher. He seeks to end all gods. He's headed to the Source. So, if you go get him, you can stop him before he kills you all."
"If that's all, pretty boy, you be quiet now and go back to your seat," Zeus said condescendingly.
"Pretty boy? I'm sorry, that sounded really queer to me," Garth pointed out.
"I tell you one time be quiet because you are this close to being disinvited to the orgy," Zeus threatened.
"This orgy is naked boys, right?" Garth questioned.
"You cannot come to the orgy!" Zeus thundered.
"Well, good. I'm actually already in a committed relationship...," Garth said.
"Shut the fuck up!" Zeus ordered and then fired electrical chains around Garth's wrists to the stage. "Now, let's see who you really are," Zeus said as he fired a lightning bolt at Garth and then blasted off his robes. He was now naked before all the gods of the universe.
"Should we help?" Rokk asked Kara.
"Eventually...," Kara said as she ate popcorn.
"And what of the others' disguises?" Zeus questioned.
Kara and Rokk instantly stood up and took off their robes. "I bet you don't have the balls to strip a woman naked in front of all these people," Kara challenged.
"Kryptonian. I thought all of you died when your planet exploded a thousand years ago," Zeus said ignorantly. "And you are who?" he asked Garth.
"They call me...Lightning Lad," Garth said seriously.
All the gods proceeded to laugh and mock him. Even Kara chuckled. "This is some bullshit," Garth said irritably, still naked before all the gods. At least he was in good shape and had some cool battle scars. "What are you? Afraid, Zeus?"
Zeus's platform dropped down to the stage. Zeus got out, lifted his very short skirt in disgust, and pranced his way over to Garth. "Are you trying to convince me you're queer?" Garth whispered as he came near.
"First, I am queer. Second, I know you're not. I understand. You're in a steady heterosexual relationship with a beautiful woman you intend to raise a family with. But don't try to impose this on us. Not good. This is a safe space. You're safe here so chill out, baby. Have some wine, have some boys, anything goes here. What happens in Omnipotence City stays in Omnipotence City," Zeus whispered back to him.
"Now, I put your clothes back on!" Zeus said as he put Garth's golden robes back on his body. "The is the grand temple of the gods, not a nudist colony."
"Message received. Can I, at least, get a lesson on how you're able to do your lightning bolt technique?" Garth requested.
"It's actually a thunderbolt," Zeus corrected.
"Can I...know your thunderbolt technique," Garth sighed while rolling his eyes.
Zeus then went about showing off his thunderbolt skills around the temple while Garth simply watched. The gods cheered enthusiastically as they saw Zeus' abilities. "This Gog will never reach the Source, so we have nothing to worry about. He'll perish trying."
"Well, okay then. We'll be on our merry way then," Garth said, still chained to the stage.
"I cannot allow that. This is a sacred place, only known by the gods. You know where we are. Gog could use you to find us. Fuck that. So, now you must stay," Zeus reasoned.
Garth resisted and deactivated the electrical chains on his wrists. Zeus materialized Greek-style soldiers to take him down. Garth whipped the electrical chains at them as Kara and Rokk landed on the stage. "They're not real people so it's okay if you kill them," Kara assured them both.
"I wasn't concerned either way," Rokk replied.
Metal shards tore apart the guards and created a swarm around them. Zeus raised his platform off the stage as he retreated. Kara, Rokk, and Garth gave Zeus' guards the beat down easily destroying them. Zeus aimed carefully and fired his thunderbolt weapon at Kara. It simply bounced off her chest harmlessly. Garth grabbed the thunderbolt and threw it back at Zeus blasting a hole through his chest. Zeus then fell off his platform like a bitch.
Kara then grabbed Garth and Rokk and flew them out of the temple back to the USS Thor.
At maximum warp, the USS Thor headed toward the Source at the center of the galaxy. Kara was on the bridge with the other Vindicators as they got closer to the center. "They say no ship can survive this," Val said anxiously.
"I say they're wrong. I say it will be super-easy, barely an inconvenience," Kara countered.
As it happened, the USS Thor went through the barrier surrounding the center with ease with only slight turbulence. On the other side of the barrier was a lone blue glowing planet. The planet was surrounded by an asteroid field. On the asteroids were giant stoned beings implanted on the surface. These were the old Promethean gods who had attempted to breach the Source Wall and understand all the mysteries of the cosmos. The breaching of the wall was the ultimate poisonous fruit of Eden. The planet's surface was full of these Promethean gods implanted presumably forever on the surface unable to move, barely alive where a single heartbeat took a billion years.
"Well, if we're going to meet God, we're going to do it by the book," Kara said nervously. "Val, standard orbital approach. Rokk, Garth, come with me. The rest of you remain on board until I know what we're dealing with. Let's move. God is a busy man."
Kara took the shuttle down to the surface where the air was breathable to perfect conditions without radiation. The planet was desert-like, lifeless. "I'm no longer in control of the craft," Brainiac 5 reported.
"Good, saves us time walking around the entire planet," Kara said nervously.
The shuttle rested on some rocky sand next to the other shuttle. "Amazing, the land, the sky...looks exactly like Southern California," Kara frowned. The three made their way across the desert path and saw giant statues in the mountains. The path finally ended in a random location with Gog at the end of it on his knees in meditation.
"God...it's me, Kara, we've traveled far...in a starship," Kara said to the sky.
"You say that like it isn't ridiculous," Rokk remarked.
"Perhaps...," Kara said and then the ground started to move. Curved rock pillars resembling a rib cage erupted from the ground. The sky became dark and the ground near Gog began to glow blue. A pillar of light suddenly shot up into the sky. Within the light was a humanoid face. "Brave souls, welcome," the voice said gently.
"Is this the voice of God?" Kara wondered.
"One voice, many faces," the voice said and then appeared as an old man's head with a long white beard. "Does this meet your expectations?"
"It is I, Gog," Gog said to the face.
"The journey to reach me could not have been an easy one," the voice said impressed.
"Actually, it was...," Gog corrected.
"You are the first to find me," the voice said pleased.
"I seek a wish," Gog said to the voice.
"Bring your ship closer to me so I can leave and bring my power to every corner of creation," the voice ordered.
"Excuse me, what does God need with my starship?" Kara asked bluntly.
"Bring the ship closer," the voice ordered her.
"Yeah, no," Kara refused.
"Kara...the fuck you doing?" Garth asked anxiously.
"Who is this bitch?" the voice questioned.
"Who am I? I'm the Supreme Leader of the Galactic Federation, Empress of the Terran Sector, Queen of Earth, Protector of the Seven Continents, Ruler over all the oceans, the unburnt, the breaker of chains...," Kara introduced herself.
The voice then interrupted her by zapping her to the ground with his eyes. Kara was on the ground wheezing, actually hurt from the blast. "You, mad, bro?" Kara asked painfully.
"What do you intend to do with the starship?" Rokk asked calmly. The voice then blasted him to the ground as well.
"Do you defy me as well?" the voice asked Garth.
Garth stood up to the entity. "I defy any god that inflicts pain for his own pleasure."
"A...god?" Gog said thoughtfully.
Kara got back up smarting. "I'm the prophet that brought Christianity back to Earth and now I'm spreading it across the galaxy. I'm a fucking saint. I deserve to be treated better than this."
"A religion you adopted from the humans that created it," the voice said dismissively. "For an eternity, I have been imprisoned in this place. I must have your ship. Now, give me what I want."
"This is not the god of the humans, the Tarloks, or any other race. He is a Promethean god imprisoned here for seeking knowledge beyond the multiverse," Brainiac 5 explained.
"You're telling us this now?" Kara asked annoyed.
"Bring me the ship or I will destroy you all," the voice ordered.
"I'm beginning to realize the irony of using a god to wish for all gods to die," Gog mused.
"Bring me the ship or you all die horribly," the voice ordered.
"Fuck you," Gog said as he engaged the voice with his Necro-sword.
"Fuck me?" the voice asked incredulously as the two fought.
Kara, Rokk, and Garth watched wide-eyed as the two fought and then there was a brilliant explosion. Kara remained standing as she emitted a forcefield around the others. As the light and dust faded, nothing remained of entity or Gog.
"Well...shit," Kara sighed.
On the bridge of the USS Thor, Kara, Rokk, and Garth eyed the Source planet. "Cosmic thoughts?" Kara guessed.
"We were just talking shit. Is God... really out there?" Garth asked doubtfully.
"Maybe he's not out there, Garth. Maybe, he's here...in our hearts," Kara said.
"Cliche as fuck," Garth nodded.
"I know," Kara agreed.
"I miss my brother," Rokk revealed.
"I thought you believed in the serenity of loneliness?" Kara asked confused.
"I was wrong," Rokk admitted.
"Let's get the hell out of here," Kara said, satisfied with their journey.
In another dimension, Gog found himself on a shallow cool lake with clouds and sunlight. He was lying on the water with the Necro-sword by his side. A pale woman with black hair wearing a black dress walked toward him. Her eyes were black as were her lips and fingernails. Around her neck was a black cross necklace.
"Shitty day, huh?" Death asked him.
"Yeah," Gog said dryly.
"Let me guess, struggling with your self-imposed task of mass deicide?" Death asked mockingly.
"Are you a god?" Gog wondered.
Death smiled amused and then showed two large black feathering wings emerge from her back. "I am the Angel of Death."
"Am I dead?" Gog asked.
"Not yet," Death told him. "I'm here to make you a deal. For every false god you kill, I'll resurrect one of your people starting with your daughter. There will be no easy fix, no snap of the fingers, no wish. You'll have to find and kill each god yourself, and I want to watch you do it for however long it takes you."
"I'll do it," Gog eagerly agreed.
"There's one other thing. Your focus will be entirely on this mission alone. You are never to see your family, your people, ever again," Death ordered.
Gog nodded tearfully. "Just let my daughter live."
"Rise, Gog, the god-butcher," Death ordered.
Gog rose to his feet, was fitted with clean sleek dark robes, and handed his Necro-sword. "After I kill every god, what happens to me?"
"I'll take the Necro-sword back and then you'll die," Death told him.
"So be it," Gog agreed.
Tarlok VIII
A teenage girl burst from her shallow grave alive again. She looked around stunned not understanding what had happened to her. She got up and made her way across the desert to the settlement that was being rebuilt. She came across Brainiac 5 supervising the construction. "Have you seen my father, Gog Mallor?" she asked.
"Your father is dead," Brainiac 5 told her.
"Then, I have no one. I am alone," she realized.
"I heard a lot about you, Tasmia. Join me and you'll want for nothing," Brainiac 5 offered.
"I will go with you," Tasmia smiled.
Omnipotence City
Gog came before the gates of the city. Before him was Hercules and an army of god warriors. "It would seem you don't know who I am. I am Gog...the god-butcher," Gog told them.
"Whoever you are, whatever you've done, surrender now or we will show you no mercy," Hercules told him off.
"Whoever I am? What the fuck?" Gog asked dismayed.
"This is your last warning," Hercules warned.
"Fine," Gog said as he approached. Hercules and Gog engaged each other with their respective swords. Hercules got a punch on Gog's face. Gog kicked him through the barrier on a bridge sending him over. Gog then engaged the god army slicing them up with ease. As Gog used his sword, multiple blades materialized with the same ability and fired off in all directions taking down scores of god soldiers all around Gog.
When a god soldier got a hit on Gog, it quickly regenerated, and he continued on. Gog fired blades up in the air taking down gunships firing on him. The floor became slick with gold blood. Gog then continued his way into the so-called holy temple filled with thousands of gods. Gog activated his main attack creating a black tent over the entire temple, blinding them all to their senses.
In the panic and confusion, Gog went on a murder spree of all the gods with his Necro-sword. Gog finally came upon the injured Zeus barely able to move or defend himself. "The Presence promised us peace. We only want peace and boys," Zeus said pitifully.
Gog sliced him across the chest through his armor ending him. He had now earned his name, but more work was to be done.
Author's Notes: I knew early on that Gorr from Marvel, Shikamaru from Naruto, Tosen Kaname from Bleach, and Gog from DC needed to be merged into one character, the father of Shadow Lass. In DC comics, Gog is a weird-ass alien god that goes around killing "false gods" and is the nearest equivalent to Marvel's Gorr. Lightning Lad is the closest thing to Thor in the Legion of Superheroes. Mighty Thor (Lady Thor)'s shotgun hammer technique was the closest to Cosmic Boy who is basically Byakuya from Bleach and Magneto from Marvel. Kara being injured by the Necro-sword doesn't mean she's a god. It's to suggest the real God is in her to a degree via her Christian religion. There will be some Christian elements with Mara's conversion story and angels. The "Endless" are being retconned as angels here.
Thor Love and Thunder was mixed with Star Trek V as there are some remarkable similarities in plot between them. This is not a good thing as both films represent the worst of their respective universes. Thor L/T breaks the MCU in so many ways when one considers the other films, abilities and options retconned into existence that should have been used prior: Thor is able to program his hammer to protect anyone he wants, the hammer selectively gives some people but not others Thor armor, Thor can give the power of Thor to multiple comrades, Infinity could have been used to defeat Thanos and/or restore everyone, the gods of Omnipotence City did nothing as presumably half of them were dusted by Thanos nor were they involved in other universe-destroying episodes. Had Thor stayed home and drank beer while playing video games, Gorr wouldn't be able to reach Infinity making the hero of the story the greatest of liabilities.
On the other hand, Star Trek V's Gene Roddenberry, a total atheist, wanted to push the narrative that belief in God was a fraud but the studio lacked the balls to go through with it, so we got what we got. Shatner wanted himself to be the only one immune to Sybok's spell like a total narcissistic asshole, but Nimoy and Kelly told him no. As with Infinity, getting through the barrier to the center of the galaxy was way too easy.