Chapter 3: Fighting the Thanagarians
The two Marvels and the six members of the Justice League took a look at the data that Shayera had provided them. They saw what appeared to be a very real simulation of what would happen to the Earth if the hyperspace bypass could be activated. A large pillar of light seemed to be passing through the Earth, then from one end a wave of crackling white electricity seemed to spread over the entire planet before imploding on itself on both sides before finally exploding.
"Woh!" exclaimed Kamala, dumbfounded and shocked. "That's creepy."
Bruce kept his calm and observed with careful calculation, hands clasped together replying:
"Ingenious."
"Yeah, I'm impressed." said Clark as he took off his glasses. "Let's go wreck it."
"Slow down! It's not that easy to wreck." Carol replied. "It's behind a force field."
"Force field controlled from the command ship." Bruce nodded as he tapped his computer keyboard with proven ease.
The diagram of a Thanagarian ship appeared on the large computer screen, a flashing red light appearing inside the ship.
"Go shut it down. I'll take care of the generator." Bruce continued with his eyes fixed on the diagram.
Wally crossed his arms and raised a skeptical eyebrow to his rich friend.
"That thing's the size of a city. What are you gonna do, throw a Batarang at it?"
"Something like that." he replied without blinking.
Alfred Pennyworth was performing his duties within the Manor. As he walked through the large living room, a large blinding spotlight appeared from nowhere in the large room. Instinctively, Alfred had barely time to take refuge behind a long sofa and noticed a Thanagarian ship just outside the Manor.
"Good heavens!"
Then the windows broke, with the Thanagarian soldiers landing on the floor of the Wayne Manor lounge.
Lieutenant Kragger advanced, wielding an axe, pushing away some very expensive chairs to reach his destination. Not wanting to stand idly by, Alfred came in his way, raising his fists in the air, but Kragger grabbed him by the face and threw him to the ground, as if nothing had happened.
Knowing already where his destination was, he headed directly to the grandfather clock that hid the secret entrance of the Batcave. He quickly drove his axe into the clock and broke it to pieces.
He looked at the metal door for a few moments before placing his hand on the cold surface, feeling the structure. A very strong and reinforced metal alloy. Even a laser shot could not penetrate it. He slouched out and nodded his head at the Thanagarians who carried an energized stick, powerful enough to melt any metal alloy.
The soldier nodded and walked toward the door, lifting the stick and pushing the energy-laden end into the top edge. The metal heated up after a second and began to melt. He pulled the stick all the way down and then went up and bent it over, cutting off the whole perimeter of the door before quickly kicking it into a steaming, burning mess. Kragger brusquely brushed it and entered the small staircase leading to the cave.
The other Hawksoldiers immediately followed their leader, carefully grabbing their various weapons as they moved in small groups through the cave.
Kragger looked around as he began to hover towards a dimly lit section of the cave.
"Spread out. They're hiding here somewhere."
Before the Hawkmen took another step, a green explosion from the ring of Green Lantern destroyed the heavy cannon.
"Who said we were hiding?" Captain Marvel said with a smile on her face, as she, Ms. Marvel and the rest of the League emerged from the shadows.
"Come and get some!" said Green Lantern, brandishing his ring to sparkle with a green light.
"We were waiting for you, birdheads!" added Ms. Marvel making giant fists appear.
The Hawkmen rushed into battle as some of them shot at Green Lantern as he hovered in the air and fired a burst of green energy at one of them, knocking him off. Wonder Woman turned her lasso and wrapped it around the ankles of one of the Hawkmen, she turned around and threw him away. Martian Manhunter crossed the ground and raised his right arm, approaching the Hawkmen that the warrior Amazon had launched.
Two Thanagarian soldiers came to attack Ms. Marvel. The latter dodged the spear and axe of the hawks, and came to enlarge her fists to hit a Thanagarian, grab him and throw him as a toy on a rock wall. Then, when the other came to attack her with his axe, Ms. Marvel seized her red scarf, offered by Prince Yan of the planet Aladna.
Proudly, she waved her scarf like a whip.
"Here we go! A souvenir of Aladna for you, birdies! Compliments of Prince Yan!"
She turned her scarf around the Thanagarian's axe and pulled it out of her hands.
And she whipped him in the face with her neck-cover, pushing him away.
Flash crossed the Hawksoldiers, hitting them at high speed and then rushed, a Thanagarian fired a blast on the speedster with his weapon, but Superman crushed both the gun and the soldier's hand.
As he cried out in agony, Superman said with an imposing voice:
"Let's use our inside voice."
He then struck the Thanagarian against a stone wall.
Two other Thanagarians were chasing Flash, but he avoided each of their shots. He went around them and turned his arms fast enough to create a small tornado. The tornado threw them into the bottom of the giant coin, which collapsed on them face up.
Flash rushed to the top of the giant penny.
"Tails." he joked amused. "I win!"
Batman leapt from the ceiling on a rope, hitting a soldier in the face. He dropped the rope to land on the ground. In doing so, he threw three Batarangs into the chest armor of three Thanagarians. The blades didn't penetrate and the warriors hovered in the air with an air of contempt on their faces.
"Your weapons are pitiful!" mocked one of them.
None of them noticed the flashing red light on each Batarang.
"Wait for it." said Batman with a sneer look.
Behind the Dark Knight, hundreds of eyes shone in the darkness. Hundreds of bats invaded the Thanagarians, attracted by the signals emanating from the Batarangs. The soldiers were quickly overwhelmed and maimed by the attacks of bats.
Kragger saw Captain Marvel pushing away the Hawkmen as if nothing had happened. None of them could defeat her.
"Whoever this strange woman is, I will destroy her!" roared the subordinate of Talak between his teeth.
He hovered right at her, waving his war axe. He put his weapon right on the young woman's head... But the axe broke into pieces on Captain Marvel's head, who had no scratch. She smiled amused.
"You weren't educated on Thanagar? Seriously? You are so pathetic!"
Kragger roared with rage and used his fists to hit Captain Marvel. But the latter with a sneer look seized his fists, blocking him. The Thanagarian was struggling, but the young woman had a strong hold on him.
"Would you like a ride in the air?" suggested Captain Marvel always amused.
And she flew up to the ceiling holding Kragger by both hands. She flew up to the top of the cave and came to hit the Thanagarian's head against a rock. And she dropped him like a stone on the floor of the Batcave.
Captain Marvel returned to the ground and joined the others who had just finished with their respective enemies.
"Let's go." declared Batman, urging them to follow him.
As everyone left the cave and headed to the living room, they saw Alfred sweep pieces of glass from broken windows and throw them in a bin. As Batman passed by, he looked up at him with his usual calm:
"Mind the glass, sir."
"You okay, Alfred?" asked Captain Marvel as he passed by.
The butler merely smiled politely with a nod and continued to sweep away the glass debris.
Batman turned to Green Lantern.
"I want you, Superman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman to go to the command ship and shut down the force field."
"And the rest of us? What do we do?" asked Ms. Marvel timidly.
"You're going to help me retake the Watchtower." replied the Dark Knight turning to her.
She turned to Captain Marvel. She was not used to being separated from Carol since they had founded the Marvels.
"You agree with him?"
The superheroine of the stars nodded energetically.
"He's right. It's a very good strategy. The four of us can fly and shoot down the force field."
"Yep, I can't fly!" replied Ms. Marvel in a bitter tone.
Flash sprinted in front of Batman and pointed out:
"It's crawling with Thanagarian soldiers. How are you planning on getting inside?"
"With that." the Gotham's vigilante replied by pointing to the outside of the Manor, where the shuttle that had brought the Thanagarians was waiting on the lawn.
"Excuse me, but can any of you fly a spaceship?" asked Ms. Marvel looking at the Thanagarian ship.
"Maybe I can try." replied J'onn.
Superman turned to Captain Marvel.
"Are you ready? "
In response, Captain Marvel let out a glittering light on her hands.
"Always." she says with a cheering smile.
J'onn had his hands on the computer console inside the alien ship, fixing the controls of an absent air. Ms. Marvel stood by him, waiting patiently. Batman hovered over his left shoulder, looking at the controls with his cape completely wrapping the upper half of his body. Flash stood over J'onn's right shoulder, hands behind his back as he looked at the Martian.
After a few moments of silence, Batman finally spoke:
"Well?"
"I have no idea how to fly this vehicle." declared J'onn, raising his head to answer him.
"Just great!" Ms Marvel mumbled as she looked up at the ceiling.
Flash looked away from J'onn to take a look at the controls of the ship with interest before reaching out and pressing on a large white button.
"What's this do?"
The forward guns of the ship launched a large yellow beam and destroyed much of the living room wall, missing by little Alfred who had his left arm on his face to protect himself from the sudden explosion.
Embarrassed, Flash shrugged off the gloomy looks of Batman and Ms. Marvel.
"Good job, dude!" the young heroine of Jersey City said to him with a furious look.
"That's not helping." Batman screamed between his teeth.
Ms. Marvel turned her attention to the Martian.
"If we can't get this thing to take off, how are we gonna get to the watchtower?"
J'onn had his right hand on his chin, thinking for a few moments while ignoring Ms. Marvel and the antics of Flash before turning to the three, having found a solution:
"I'll need one of the Hawkmen."
It took a few minutes for Batman to appear their leader Kragger. The Dark Knight threw him against the side of the ship.
"You think I'd tell you anything?" said Kragger with a hostile look. "I'd sooner choke on your bones."
Frustrated, Ms. Marvel grabbed him by the armor and raised her fist towards him.
"I'm gonna choke you, birdhead! Start with these!"
But J'onn immediately seized her arm, preventing her from attacking.
"No. We're running out of time. I'll take the information from him."
"I thought you couldn't read their minds." Flash reminded him.
J'onn's eyes were shining as he looked at Kragger, reaching both hands to the head of the hawkman while he spoke in a disturbing manner:
"I'll just have to try harder."
Ms. Marvel watched with fascination and a mixture of fear as she felt J'onn tear the mind of the Thanagarian lieutnant, mouth blunted and eyes wide open in fear. Only a few moments passed when suddenly J'onn screamed in pain, three large cuts appearing on his face, as if an animal had scratched him. Ms. Marvel gasped when six cuts appeared on his back, then three on his right arm, then three on his left arm.
"Hey, he need help!" she exclaimed as she advanced towards him but Batman reached out his arm to stop her.
"Let him! He can do it."
Ms Marvel watched J'onn with concern as more and more injuries appeared all over his body. She saw his hands burn and cuts appear more and more numerous all over his body before Kragger screamed of pain before collapsing.
J'onn let out a gasp, stumbling for a few moments before standing up, his wounds healing instantly. Batman approached his friend Martian who spoke with a tired expression:
"I have what we need."
Ms. Marvel saw the inert Thanagarian in a completely catatonic state. The Martian was a telepath using as much brute force to penetrate someone's mind. She made her two hands enlarge. She lifted up the frozen body of Kragger and left him in the middle of the courtyard of Wayne Manor.
"Sweet dreams, little birdie!" she mumbled leaving him to his fate.
She then followed the other League heroes on board, clinging to the ship as J'onn skillfully turned the ship on and took off.
Meanwhile, Alfred had come out with his hands behind his back as he approached the catatonic lieutenant with some disgust. He leaned over to the Hawkman, raised his eyebrows and spoke in his usual calm tone, despite the fact that there was no one around him:
"I've asked master Bruce to refrain from leaving trash in the yard."
Shayera was imprisoned in a cell generated by a circular force field in the middle of the detention room, head down and eyes closed. The shield of force buzzed around her, the energy around her shimmering as she waited patiently for her fate to be decided. She didn't regret what she had done, she had done the right thing. It may not have been the right thing for his people... but it was still the right thing to do.
Her eyes opened and she looked up as the doors whistled, indicating that someone had come to see her. She already knew who it was before looking at her visitor, getting up to face with Talak. She could see his stress, the tension he was under as he approached her. It broke her heart to see him like this, an old shell of the proud, strong and confident warrior she had first met.
When he spoke, his voice was firm and strong, like the commander she used to know:
"Why, Shayera? Why would you do this?"
She looked him in the eye, having already thought about what she thought of the current situation:
"I'm trying to save lives."
She tried to make him understand that she was only doing what was right. But Talak was not at all of her opinion.
"So am I. Tens of billions of Thanagarians."
"So we trade the humans' lives for our own?" exclaimed Shayera looking deeper.
"War makes for hard choices, lieutenant. It's them or us."replied Talak as if that justified everything, speaking to her not as a Thanagarian, but as a soldier.
Shayera shook her head in dismay. She no longer recognized the Talak she had met. Had the battle against the Gordanians made him more indifferent to the suffering of other species? How did this make him different from their barbarian enemies?
"The man I fell in love with would have found another way." she replied.
But Talak, stubborn as the man, thought of another conclusion, thinking she was referring to someone else.
"Are you talking about me, or Green Lantern?"
Caught off guard, Shayera stared at Talak in silence for a few moments before closing her eyes and lowering her gaze, her silence being the only answer he needed. She couldn't deny having feelings for John Stewart. And Talak seemed to understand that.
"I didn't want to believe it." he declared with a broken and broken voice filled with despair. "Shayera, I love you. I can forgive your treason. I can forgive everything. Make this all go away. Just tell me what I need to hear. It was a meaningless flirtation. You were lonely. Tell me I'm the one you love, not him!"
He leaned closer to the force field that held her prisoner, his big eyes begging her to confirm his words.
Shayera came a little closer, trying one last time to change Talak's mind:
"If you want me, I'm yours. All you have to do is spare the Earth."
She knew it was a gamble, she knew her former lover wasn't the kind of man who would abandon such a grand plan for the sake of winning her over, but she had to try.
Talak looked at her for a moment, his hope leaving his eyes as he removed his hand. He clenched his teeth and punched the force field with rage.
"Perhaps you'll forget him once Earth is nothing but a memory." he exclaimed in a cold tone.
He turned away from her, and headed for the door. Just after he came out, spikes sprang from holes all along the edge of the door frame and blocked the exit, leaving Shayera alone and trapped with her thoughts.
J'onn without problem pilot the stolen ship towards the Watchtower occupied by the Thanagarian troops before slowly transforming his body to take the perfect appearance of Kragger. From his wings to his armor and body, he was in every way like Lieutenant Thanagarian.
Even Ms. Marvel was amazed.
"So weird."
Ignoring the teenager, he spoke into the communication system with Kragger's voice, typing in the mooring codes that he had extracted from the mind of the lieutenant as he spoke:
"Shuttle Elipson 16 requesting entry. Confirm docking code."
He received an immediate response from the service soldier:
"Docking code confirmed. You are cleared to come aboard."
J'onn took the ship into the docking bay, landing carefully before detaching and descending the ramp towards the two Thanagarian soldiers armed with masses.
One of the soldiers expressed some surprise but was diligent enough to appear respectful:
"We weren't expecting you, sir."
'Kragger' looked at the two soldiers as he spoke in a calm voice:
"There's been a change in plans."
Immediately after he finished speaking, J'onn slowly transformed into a muscled blue cyclops with horns and charged the two Thanagarians with a powerful roar, punching his fist into them and sending them flying into the wall.
Another Thanagarian soldier immediately raised his laser rifle to shoot the Martian, but a giant fist hit him in the head and grabbed him to throw him against the wall like a toy. Ms. Marvel caught another Thanagarian with her giant hand, giving him a sneer look.
"Hey, guys! Here we go again!"
The sound of the three guards attacked flew a whole battalion of Hawkmen through the main doors on the other side of the hangar. Without wasting time, Flash passed his companions and began to beat the Thanagarians one after another with his super speed. Ms. Marvel had her arms enlarged to make them fall down so that Flash could finish them. Batman attacked them with his Batarangs and fists. J'onn, with sheer brute force, thrust his own fists into every guard that approached him.
On the Thanagarian command ship, the flying heroes were heading for the mothership by air. Their presence alerted a Thanagarian guard who announced to his superior:
"Commander, the Justice League is approaching."
Talak looked up at the holographic screen as one of his soldiers spoke with urgency, a representation of Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the super-powerful blonde woman approaching the ship flying through the air.
Talak laid his hands on his hips, looking at the screen without a hint of surprise or worry.
"Kragger's strike squad has failed. Launch interceptors."
At his command, hundreds of fighters were launched from the command ship, swarming in the sky like bees around a hive.
Wonder Woman squinted at the defenses around the command ship.
"Pretty bad odds." she said as she flew towards them.
"For them, very bad!" added Captain Marvel with a sneer look.
The Kryptonian looked at the ships, moving a little faster.
"Yeah. They don't stand a chance." he says in a calm voice while flying.
The four heroes quickly threw themselves on the swarm of fighters, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman and Superman let their bodies run through the fighters like paper while Green Lantern sent several explosions of green energy from his ring to destroy several fighters at once. Captain Marvel was even faster than them. She dodged their attacks and crossed their ships, as if nothing had happened.
Green Lantern had passed through the hull of the mothership and made his way inside.
Ms. Marvel and J'onn J'onzz were busy neutralizing the last hawkish soldiers occupying the Watchtower.
While Flash rushed at super-speed to hit several Thanagarians at once.
"Ok. The Watchtower's ours again." he announced joyfully.
"Well done!" proudly launched Ms Marvel.
They joined Batman who was manipulating one of the computers in the Tower.
"So, Batman, what's next?" asked the New Jersey heroine.
"Where's your secret weapon?" asked Flash.
"You're standing in it." replied Batman monotonously without looking at him.
The mouth of Flash opened slightly, his eyes widened.
"Wait. You mean we're gonna..."
Batman interrupted him and quickly tapped into the computer:
"Take the Watchtower out of orbit and drop it right on top of their little science project."
Ms. Marvel let out a small muffled cry, eyes wide open:
"Have you thought about those people over there? People around the machine? They'll get blown up..."
"The bypass must be abandoned now, no risk of collateral loss or damage."
He glanced at the unconscious Thanagarian soldiers before turning to the computer.
"Get them to the escape pods."
The entire space station trembled as the primary thrusters propelled the Watchtower out of orbit and into hyperspace drift.
Not having time to discuss and seeing no better way to save the planet in the allotted time, Flash, J'onn and Ms. Marvel moved every Thanagarian soldier they could find towards the escape pods before launching them. With one remaining escape pod, Flash made the tour of the entire Tower in seconds before moving into the pod with two other soldiers while J'onn and Ms. Marvel placed a few others inside.
J'onn glanced at Flash while Kamala carefully arranged the Thanagarians in the escape pod.
"Is that the last of them?" asked the Martian.
"He is." replied Ms. Marvel, dropping an unconscious Hawksoldier to the ground.
Flash began to dust his hands, smiling while looking at his work.
"Yeah, the tower's completely pest-free."
"Good." said Batman behind them by activating the escape pod.
The three unsuspecting heroes turned suddenly when they heard a beep and then the sound of the escape pod doors closing and moving away from the Watchtower. Flash pressed against the door, while Ms. Marvel screamed inside.
"What are you doing?"
As the pod moved away, she pressed against the window next to Flash while J'onn shouted in a panicked voice:
"What are you doing?!"
Batman's voice resounded through the intercom on board the escape pod as he looked at each hero's solemn eyes, his finger pressed on the button next to the door:
"Can't risk having the Watchtower burn up on reentry. I'll have to guide it in manually."
At these words, J'onn and Flash's mouths opened and their eyes widened as Ms. Marvel punched the glass:
"BATMAN! DON'T! YOU WILL DIE IF YOU STAY HERE!"
She clenched against the wall, but the rescue pod moved away from Batman and the Watchtower.
Ignoring the cries of the girl, Batman resigned himself to his fate by turning away from them.
"Ms. Marvel. Gentlemen, it's been an honor."
On this, Batman turned away and headed for the main computer while Flash dropped with a drop of shoulders, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at the ground in disbelief. J'onn simply looked at Flash with sadness while Ms. Marvel continued to look out of the window with dismay. She felt like she was reliving the disappearance of Monica Rambeau. She punched the glass again and pressed her forehead against the cold glass, slowly falling to her knees. J'onn came closer, placing a comforting arm on his shoulders while Ms. Marvel let out her tears.
-He can't do that! she whispered between her sobs.
When Hro Talak discovered that John Stewart was aboard the mothership, it was when the latter had burst into the lower decks, eliminating all Thanagarians in his path. Thanks to the security cameras, the soldiers on the bridge could see what the Green Lantern was doing and where he was going. At the sight of the human's face, Talak clenched his teeth in rage. He hated John Stewart. This man had stolen Shayera Hol from him. She had even betrayed her people, warning the Justice League of their plans, and even giving back her ring to Lantern. For her betrayal, she was imprisoned in a dungeon. He tried to reason with her, telling her that the only way their people would survive was if the Earth died. Instead, she decided that the people of Earth deserved her love more. One person on Earth in particular.
"Intruder alert!" shouted one of the bridge officers in the ship's communication system. "All available security forces to engineering deck!"
"Belay that!" yelled Talak as he walked to the door, his axe in hand. "Green Lantern is mine."
If Talak had stayed on the deck for a few more minutes, he would have seen Wonder Woman crush a fighter through the hull surrounding the deck. She had quickly flown through the hole she had created, followed by Captain Marvel. After mastering the officers on the bridge, Diana took a sword and walked through the door, followed by Carol. Unfortunately, there were two separate paths leading to the engine room.
Wonder Woman looked at her new teammate:
"Are you ready?"
"I'm still ready." replied Captain Marvel amused. "We race to the force field?"
She had a sneer and competitive smile as she put herself in the running position.
Wonder Woman gave a little sneer laugh.
"I never shy away from a challenge, Danvers." she replied amused. "May the best win!"
She hurled an Amazonian war cry and rushed on her way. To be sure, Carol let out a laugh as she ran down the other way. Woe to all Thanagarians on their passage.
Batman rushed to the main deck and activated the thrusters at maximum, as well as the reinforced blast shutters on the windows. He headed for the hyperspace bypass.
The Dark Knight took a seat in front of the control computer and activated a steering wheel while the screen revealed a direct view of the Watchtower on a course projection.
Wonder Woman was cruising the Thanagarian ship, crossing fierce Hawksoldiers, but she could still face small groups of them without too much difficulty. As she was defeating a group, she noticed a door covered with irregularly placed bars. Behind the bars, and inside a force field, stood Shayera Hol. Once known as Hawkgirl, she was one of Diana's best friends. But she had scorned this friendship, and the Amazons hated traitors.
"I should leave you to burn." she grunt between her teeth.
Nevertheless, the Amazonian warrior then raised her sword and struck through the controls of Shayera's cell. The bars were pulled back into the wall and the force field disappeared. Without a word, Diana walked away. As soon as she left, Shayera came out of her cell and, after picking up a fallen mass, flew to the control of the force field.
Green Lantern pierced the middle of the doors to the force field control room before opening them and running quickly inside. After repelling a large number of Thanagarians, he had finally reached his destination.
As soon as he entered, a voice resounded in the room:
"The force field control is over here."
Green Lantern looked up, pointing his ring toward the voice. His eyes squinted when he saw the shape of Hro Talak sliding on the ground in front of him, blocking his way to the controls of the force field.
"That is what you came for, yes? You want it?" said Talak in a hostile tone, raising his war axe, looking at the Green Lantern closely. "All you have to do is get by me."
Green Lantern frowned and raised his right fist:
"It'll be a pleasure."
He fired a green laser beam at Talak, who quickly cut him with his axe.
"No..." he roars fiercely. "This won't be like the last time you took something that belonged to me."
Not caring at all what the Thanagarian warrior was referring to, Green Lantern only provoked him.
"Anything I took was freely offered. Maybe you should take better care of your stuff."
He started firing a green burst of fire at Talak, which was all blocked and deflected.
Green Lantern hovers in the air, his body radiating energy from the ring. Hro flew after him, swinging his war axe towards his opponent who raised his right arm to form a green energy kite shield with his ring.
The Thanagarian warrior screamed as he repeatedly struck the Green Lantern's shield with his axe, creating a large cut on top of the shield, right in the middle. He then slid his axe to the side and struck Green Lantern toward the ground, forcing him to lean back while Talak struck the shield again with his axe, pushing him back.
As the shield wavered, he carried his axe over his head, grabbing it with both hands to make a blow above his head. He struck his war axe violently, forcing Green Lantern to dodge to the right as the axe hit the ground, devastating him with cracks as energy came out of the weapon and penetrated into the ground.
Before Green Lantern could recover from his dodge, Talak ran immediately forward and violently struck Lantern across the room. Green Lantern tried to swing his fist at Hro but was hit in the face with great force, sending him flying into a metal tank filled with gasoline. The machines behind him crackled with smoke and electricity as Talak moved forward immediately and grabbed Lantern's throat, lifting him into the air.
"I've beaten you, little man." he chuckled to Green Lantern with triumph. "Any last words?"
He raised his axe, the blade of metal crackling with electricity.
Green Lantern opened his emerald eyes and looked at his winged opponent.
"Yeah, you can kiss my ax!"
His ring shone as he formed his own war axe in his right hand and lifted it just as Talak was lifting his own axe. Green Lantern blocked the Thanagarian's axe with his, the two men striking each other as their axes met with a metallic clatter and a crackling.
Captain Marvel had neutralized a whole legion of Thanagarians with her photon fire. Until then, she was doing well. She hoped to find the force field control room soon and put an end to this madness. She would never give up on wanting to save the worlds. She thought about Monica who had sacrificed herself to save their reality. Was she here? Would she ever see her again? Carol was wondering.
Footsteps interrupt her thoughts. Instantly, she stood on guard and prepared to fight back when she discovered a Thanagarian without her helmet, with red hair. The latter raised her hands, not wanting to fight.
"Wait! I don't want to fight anyone! I want to stop this, just like you!"
Captain Marvel was about to shoot her with her photon shots, but she recognized her voice.
"That was you in the Batcave." she recognized by squinting. "You are Hawkgirl."
"My name is Shayera." said the Thanagarian nodding her head.
"What do you want?" asked Captain Marvel.
"I want to help bring down this bypass. I know I betrayed my friends. I may never be able to make up for all the harm I've done, but I want to make it right before it's too late."
Shocked, Carol identified herself with Shayera. Many years ago, she had set out to destroy the Supreme Intelligence that led the Kree empire on the planet Hala, thinking it was doing the right thing, but this only caused civil war and the collapse of the Kree planet, Depriving it of water and breathing air. And she had been fighting for years to make things better. So she knew what the Thanagarian felt. She knew the guilt too well. It was because of this feeling that she had never been to find Monica or her best friend Maria during those thirty years when she left the Earth, until the arrival of Thanos who had snapped half the universe.
"I know what it feels like to think you're doing the right thing, she says in an emotional voice. "My name's Carol Danvers. Captain Marvel. I know we don't know each other, Shayera, but I don't think you're entirely to blame. Despite the fact that you were given a reason for your people to build this generator to end the war. You still thought it was the right thing to do to stop it because it would destroy this planet. You could not turn your back on the people of the Earth. I'm sure you're not a bad guy, Hawkgirl. Otherwise, you would never have come to the Batcave to warn us. It proves that you want to make things better. You made a mistake, and now you have a chance to do what's really right. You must take it. Therefore, I trust you."
Shayera looked at Captain Marvel as if she was speaking to her in a language she didn't understand. Of all her friends and people she knew, this stranger forgave her for that mistake. She was speechless.
Despite all the chaos outside the room, Shayera had nothing else in the universe at that time but her and Carol Danvers. She tried to think about what she had said. She told her that she should not give up, that she should not collapse despite everything that had happened. She was to help the League stop Hro, whether they needed her help or not.
Shayera took Carol's hand. The latter smiles proudly.
"We must stop the generator if we want to save the Earth." says the female Thanagarian.
"I know. Do you know where it is?"
"Yes, on this way, Captain. We don't have much time."
She rushed to the room with Captain Marvel behind her. She led her down the corridor to the engine room.
Crossing an intersection, the corridor next to them was filled with soldiers. They took note of their presence and began to open fire on the duo.
Captain Marvel brandished her fists, which shone with a glittering glow, and turned to her new friend.
"Go! I got your back! Go to the generator room! Do what you have to do, Hawkgirl!"
Shayera nodded as she rushed down the corridor leading to the generator room. She could still hear Captain Marvel repelling the Hawksoldiers with her photon fire. She walked to the doors of the generator room and noticed that the doors had been folded into the room.
She crosses the distorted gates and directly embarks on a fight in which she doesn't want to participate. Hro and John were fighting, although Green Lantern was already on the ground, unconscious. The main control of the force field was still intact. It was behind an anti-radiation shield that protected the controls from the bottom of the room to the roof. The rest of the generator room was in disarray. The circular control room of the shield had a huge bump on one side of the room. Parts of the control consoles surrounding the part were notched or beaten.
All this damage was caused by the two men she loved. Two men who did what they thought was right, who did their duty. The same two men had been fighting and brutalizing each other in that room. The two men she had betrayed and who had torn her between two worlds that could never forgive her. One of the men stood victorious while the other lay on the hard ground. She thought they had not had this brutal fight for Earth or Thanagar, but for her. Since they both heard about her conflicted feelings for the other man, it looked like they were going to kill each other.
She didn't know what to do, she was about to protect the Earth from her people. She had a goal thanks to Carol Danvers, and now another decision was imposed on her without anyone to support her. Who would she choose? Hro Talak, commander of the army of Thangar, her fiancé, her lover, proud warrior. Or John Stewart, Green Lantern, soldier, strict but good man. It was a decision she wished she had never to make.
It was a decision of love, despite her betrayal to both of them, one of them could forgive her and spend the rest of his days with her. She stood there for a moment, without any clarity. She could let Talak kill John, it was the easiest decision, and she could just stay there. But she could never live with herself again after letting the Earth and John be destroyed. At that moment, she lost hope in her mission of redemption.
Then she remembered what Carol had told her earlier: 'you're not a bad guy, Hawkgirl'' 'You have a chance to do what's really right. You must take it.'
And at that point, she knew what to do. She had to save the Earth. She had to save John and even try to save Hro. Her determination revived, she quickly turned to Hro before he could strike the final blow to John.
"HRO, ENOUGH! The fight's over. You're a soldier, not a murderer!"
She went to him face to face, to tell the truth to the man she always loved. That he could still be reasoned.
She loved Hro, but the man she had fallen in love with years before was disappearing. He became obsessed with the idea of taking revenge on the Gordanians by making them think that he was someone completely different. Perhaps there was still a part of the man in whom she had fallen in love.
Everything would collapse when Talak struck her with the back of his hand across the room. Shayera was now on her knees as she drained the blood from the edge of her mouth.
"I'm a fool for ever loving you!" exclaimed Talak angrily.
It hurt Shayera more than the blow could have made her feel.
She stood up, but Talak refused to listen to reason. Although she was reluctant to do that, she had to fight Hro. She prepared as the mass she held emitted electric sparks.
"It didn't have to be this way." she declared preparing to fight her former lover.
Talak prepared his axe as he stared at Shayera with a furious look.
"Yes... It did." he grins as he charges, just like Shayera.
The two weapons clashed as they fought each other. The heavy weapons threw sparks and lights across the room.
Batman clenched his teeth as he struggled with the controls, the Watchtower finally penetrating into the atmosphere as red lights flickered everywhere, alarms sounding loud. The whole tower was crackling with electricity as it began to collapse and catch fire.
Speaking into his communicator as the place literally began to collapse and burn around him, Batman frowned at Superman:
"We're cutting it a little close. Have you shut off the force field?"
Superman floated over the command ship, pressing his communicator as he launched his heat vision again, shooting down another fighter.
"Not yet. Where are you?" he asked by communication
Batman spoke as if it should be obvious, struggling again with the controls:
"Aboard the Watchtower, guiding it to target."
Superman's eyes widened as he looked up:
"That's insane! Get out of there!"
Batman felt the sweat dripping down his face as he felt the heat rise, but was happy to see that the Tower was on track:
"Negative. I'm staying with it..."
Superman was speechless as he tried to hear the rest of Batman's answer, but communication had been abruptly cut off. His eyes widened as he looked up to heaven.
"Batman!"
He raised his fists and flew to the Watchtower in flames at full speed.
Shayera and Talak flew further into the air, their weapons repelling each other with heavy blows and blockages. Shayera managed to get an opening and hit Talak on the shoulder then continued by hitting him in the face. For a brief moment, Talak began to fall. Shayera, thinking it was the best chance to deliver a critical blow to end the fight, flew down to deliver her mass to Talak. He managed to recover quickly and to block her mass with his axe. They engaged for a few seconds before Talak gained an advantage by striking her with the axe.
Shayera fell before flying again and continuing the fight against Talak. Just before she lifted her mass, Talak struck her against the walls of the room. He came to press the handle of his axe against her throat like a vise.
"Was he worth it?" he asked.
"This isn't about him, it's about us." said Shayera, trying to reason with him again. "Don't kill these innocent people, Hro. Find another way. We have a chance to do the right thing and we must take it!"
She used the words of Captain Marvel on him.
Talak remembered her pleas. He let go of the handle of his axe from her throat and set Shayera free. The latter assumed that her former fiancé had finally regained his senses. That they didn't need to sacrifice these people. That moment disappeared when Talak resealed his grip on the axe and shocked Shayera with it. She screamed agony as the electric current ran through her body like venom. Having finished his attack, he took off his axe and took Shayera by the head. Hawkgirl, stunned, was hanging on her hand like a rag doll.
"There's no us anymore, Shayera." he groped by the head. "I do what is right for Thanagar!"
He then threw her at Green Lantern who was about to get up. Shayera collides with John, grounding him.
Although Shayera was unsettled by the shock, she realized that she was with John. Green Lantern had no ring to defend himself and was still dizzy from the previous fight. The two heroes who were shot looked up to see Talak looking down with his axe ready.
"Just a fallen traitor. And a soldier with a job to do." He says coldly raising his axe and staring at the Green Lantern who tries to get up despite his injuries. "She won't save you again, Lantern. No woman's skirt to hide behind. No ring. What are you going to do now?"
Suddenly, a pure photonic energy burst through the wall of the room and hit Talak. The pain was excruciating, and the soldier-falcon tried to protect himself with his axe which began to melt.
The photon discharge stopped at the same time as a glowing silhouette entered through the hole in the wall. It was Captain Marvel who stared at Rho Talak with a look of anger.
The Hawkman collapsed to the ground, while Captain Marvel stood up to him with her fists raised.
"This invasion is over!" she declared coldly. "This madness ends now!"
Hro stood up and glared at the powerful woman in anger.
"This is not your fight, woman!"
"When someone threatens to destroy an entire planet, it's my fight, Hawk-dude!" she said with a hostile look.
"The Gordonians are a threat to my people! For years I was locked in a Gordanian prison camp with many of my own kind! We were tortured and mutilated! They will never let us live in peace! I will destroy them all, even if I have to erase the Earth from existence!"
"Your conflict doesn't justify genocide!" said Captain Marvel with furious eyes. "The people of Earth don't deserve to die in the name of your war. You want to save your people. That's good for you as well! But there are other ways to win a war than by destroying an innocent people. A people that does not concern you or your enemies. By destroying the Earth, you are no better than those you fight. You will only prove that you are not different from them."
"I will do what I must do to save my people!" roared Talak, brandishing what was left of his axe.
"I will do what I must do to save this planet!" replied Carol with a glimmer of defiance in her eyes.
Talak uttered a primitive cry and charged at Captain Marvel with his axe. He held it and came to hit Captain Marvel on the head. But the weapon broke into pieces as soon as he touched the woman's head. The latter came to grab Talak by the arm and sent him to propel to the other end of the control room.
Shayera had just helped John Stewart get up. Both were contemplating the fight before their eyes.
The rage and determination of Talak reminded Carol of her former enemy, the Kree Dar-Benn. She was given the nickname Annihilator for damaging the Kree planet. She wondered how Rho Talak would be called by destroying the Earth.
Seeing his weapon shattered, Talak rushed like a bull at the woman and came to punch her fists. Carol fought back with her own fists and dodged the Thanagarian. She repeatedly hit Talak in the face. The Hawksoldier was bruised, but still standing.
"Hawkgirl! Destroy the force field!" Captain Marvel said, fighting the Thanagarian.
Then, Talak uttered a new wild cry and hit Carol in the face, but she smiled at him.
"You hit like a girl, Commander!" she says amused and unaffected by her punches.
Joining hands in a big fist, she struck Talak's face and sent him flying into the large computer console, exploding with energy and electrocuting the man-hawk. The force field around the force field control went out, Hro remaining motionless among the rubble.
"We have to turn it off now!" said Captain Marvel pointing at the generator.
Green Lantern limped to the force field control, pressing his hand on the giant golden circular lever. He pressed it with one hand, growling as his wounded body felt itself stretch. Carol was about to press the button with one finger when Shayera stood next to Lantern, placing her hand on hers. She looked at Green Lantern who in turn looked into her eyes, then Carol added her hand with theirs, before they all three pressed the lever, lowering it completely.
As the flaming remains of the Watchtower crashed into the bypass, Batman strove to stay conscious. The extreme heat of the re-entry had pushed him to his absolute limits. The sweat was streaming out of him in waves, and the only thing he could still focus on was the targeting path on the computer screen in front of him, which miraculously always worked.
Finally, knowing that it was impossible for the station not to hit the bypass, Batman had allowed himself to faint. Fortunately, before the impact, Superman hit the station walls and pulled Batman and the seat on which he was tied safely. Seconds after their release, the Watchtower, space base of the Justice League for two years, had crashed into the hyperspace bypass. The entire device, the size of a city, exploded with a force never seen since the drop of the atomic bomb on Japan. The crater, which is more than two hundred miles wide, and nearly twenty miles deep, was visible from orbit.
Superman and Batman, who had regained consciousness, took a moment to observe the devastation, before the Man of Steel turned to the Dark Knight with a grin-like smile:
"Always have to be the hero, don't you?"
"Right back at you." replied Batman smiling in turn with a tired look.
Green Lantern and Shayera both looked at the video screen with some relief, seeing the debris from the hyperspace bypass. They both exchanged a brief look before turning away, Shayera with sadness at what was to come and Green Lantern with weariness at the events of the day. Captain Marvel had moved away from them to admire what was left of the bypass. They had won. Earth had just been saved.
Shayera and Lantern both exchanged a brief glance before turning away, Shayera with sadness at what was to come and Green Lantern with weariness at the events of the day.
It was obvious that they both had feelings for each other. But after what had just happened, did their story still have a future? As Carol was wondering, a platoon of Thanagarian soldiers rushed into the room, armed with various weapons. They encircled the three heroes.
As Carol was about to jump into the mass of Hawkmen, the heroes heard pain-snarling and metal noises. They all looked out the door to see Wonder Woman waving her sword at five or six Thanagarian soldiers, slightly ruffled hair, holding her sword in a cautious position.
"Who's next?!" she asked, raising her sword in the air with a fierce look.
Captain Marvel stood before John and Shayera as a shield, casting a hostile gaze at her assailants, while she grumbled at the Thanagarians:
"It's over, now! You lost, guys! Your bypass is gone! You have two options: either you stand there and get your asses kicked, or you leave this planet and never come back here! Choose!"
The Thanagarians all looked at each other. And as Wonder Woman was about to attack two of the standing soldiers, a voice resounded in the room:
"Stand down! Lower your weapons."
All eyes turned to Hro Talak, even Carol who was always standing in front of the couple of heroes. One of the Thanagarians who was trying to attack Wonder Woman looked at Hro with confusion. Hro headed for his soldiers, photonic burns all over his body and his wings burned here and there.
"Our mission is a failure. There's no more reason to fight."
He found some strength in his voice as he nodded to his soldiers:
"Let them go."
Wonder Woman lowered her sword as Captain Marvel let Talak go to Shayera, staring:
"I hope you're pleased with yourself. It will take years for us to rebuild elsewhere."
Shayera didn't even blink her eyes when she looked at him:
"Then you'd better get started."
She then quickly passed him, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel joining them. The Thanagarian soldiers stepped aside, watching them all go away alongside their commander. No one made a gesture to stop them.
Captain Marvel came to support Green Lantern who was groaning, then spoke in a low voice to Wonder Woman.
"For the record... I won, Princess!"
The Amazonian princess had a small amused smile.
Shayera Hol, Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan watched the news of the Thanagarian fleet's retreat and departure. The journalist seemed relieved and tired, but finally thanked the Justice League, saying that the world owed them once again a debt of gratitude.
"We saved the world!" declared Kamala rejoiced.
She had told them about the Watchtower. Captain Marvel was impressed by the altruism of Batman.
Shayera watched the news with great sadness. Although she had helped save the world, things were not the same. She had betrayed her friends in the League, and today she was banished from her homeland. She had no place to go, no place to belong.
Saddened, she lowered her shoulders, turned off the television and placed the remote on the table. Carol and Kamala looked at her with compassion, knowing what the Hawkwoman had been through recently and her worries about her uncertain future.
The Justice League had met in one of the rooms of the Manor Wayne to discuss the fate of Hawkgirl. Since she had betrayed them, she had lost the right to express her opinion on matters of the League. Since Carol and Kamala were not members of the League, they were both politely asked to leave.
The three had spent the last hours talking, Carol trying to cheer her up, and she had spent time listening to some of Captain Marvel's adventures of the past few years. She was more than a little surprised to learn what the two Marvels had faced in their universe.
Despite her fatigue, Shayera was still depressed. She had lost everything. While the two visitors had gained new friends who would support them. Shayera had betrayed her friends, and all her kind.
And there she was, watching her people fly away, defeated, knowing it was her fault. Without her Thanagarian armor and all her other clothes destroyed with the Watchtower, Bruce Wayne had at least provided her with a pair of jeans, shoes and a white shirt whose back had been cut to make way for her wings.
Alfred joined them by placing his tray on the table. And he came to serve the tea to the three women.
Shayera crossed her arms, clenching them against her, without looking at the butler.
"They've been in there a long time."
"Yes, miss, they have." said Alfred as he served the tea. "If I may be so bold, I'm neither a superhero, nor a soldier. So I'm hardly qualified to judge your actions by those standards. But I do know this: without the great sacrifices you've made we wouldn't be here to share this nice pot of tea."
Shayera smiled kindly, accepting the cup of tea that Alfred offered her with a radiant smile.
"Whatever they decide in that room, in my eyes, you'll always be a hero."
Then he offered the drink and cookies for Carol and Kamala. Carol had been watching the butler with a look of admiration. She appreciated the wisdom of this old man. And she would wish to have a man like him in her world. Bruce Wayne was lucky to have a butler as dedicated as Alfred Pennyworth.
Smiling, she turned to Shayera.
"He's right." she admitted. "And for Kamala and me, you're a hero too."
Kamala agreed, adding:
"We know what you've been through, Shayera. You did all these things because you thought you were doing what was best for everyone. And when you knew what your people wanted to do to the Earth, you did everything to prevent them from carrying out their plan. You saved this Earth. You saved billions of lives, the lives of people who are not even your own kind. You had no reason to do it, and yet you did. You went so far as to be rejected by your people by helping us, and I think... I think that despite what happened, you are a true hero, Hawkgirl. No matter what the League or people say about you, Carol and I know that you're a good person. And you will always be, no matter what they decide."
"Whatever they decide about you, there is one thing that will not change." added Carol sharing her friend's optimism. "You will always have the choice to do good. Keep in mind that you always have a choice. The choice to be good. As far as I'm concerned, you don't have to prove anything. Kamala is right. You will always be a hero. And what you did for the Earth is living proof of that."
Shayera smiled at them with gratitude.
"Kamala... Carol... thank you."
She took the hand of Kamala and that of Carol, feeling accepted in the Marvels.
"She exploited our weaknesses, betrayed us." Wonder Woman retorted, eyes furrowed as she looked around the table at each of her fellow League members.
Flash waved his hands on the table, wanting to defend Shayera:
"Come on! She was in the ultimate no-win situation. But when push came to shove, she came through for us, just like always."
J'onn looked at Wonder Woman right in front of him, speaking in his usual calm tone:
"She's a pariah to her people. We're all she has left."
He then turned his attention to Superman.
The latter nodded slightly with a wave of his hand:
"Believe me, J'onn, I feel for her. But after everything that's happened I honestly don't know if I could ever completely trust her again."
Green Lantern remained silent, his right arm in the cast from his personal battle with Hro Talak, before looking around the table at each member as they decided on the fate of the woman he knew he still loved. He was the only one who did not speak. Honestly, he didn't know what to say.
Finally, Batman spoke, deciding to end this endless loop:
"We're arguing in circles. It's time to take a vote."
Shortly after, Alfred returned to Shayera and gently laid his hand on her shoulder.
"They've sent for you, miss."
"Thank you, Alfred." she said to him, rising from the chair in a resolute tone.
Before joining her former allies in the League, she came to hug Carol and then Kamala as well.
The teenager waved her hand gently.
"Good luck."
Shayera smiled back, withdrew and went to the next room where the Justice League was assembled.
As soon as she entered the dining room, Kamala walked quietly towards the adjacent wall. She hoped to hear what the League had to say. She hoped they would be lenient with her. Carol sighed in sorrow for Shayera, wanting to know her fate as well. The two visitors jumped slightly when they heard a slight cough. They turned to see Alfred, with a small smile on their lips.
"Ladies."
Before Kamala could ask for anything, the butler taped his ear to the wall and winked at them. Carol and Kamala smiled, then imitated Alfred's action, both understanding what he was doing.
Shayera entered the dining room and found the other six members of the League standing in line. All stood upright, with straight backs and square shoulders. Even Green Lantern, whose right arm was in the cast. She could almost feel the bitterness towards him.
Superman spoke with sympathy:
"Hawkgirl…"
But Shayera interrupted him before he could go any further.
"Before you start, I have something to say. I came to this planet as a patriot. I had a mission, and I carried it out. What I couldn't know was that I would come to care for the Earth and her people. That I've come to care for all of you. I've spent the last five years torn between my feelings and my duty. I won't ask you to do the same. Therefore I am resigning from the Justice League, effective immediately."
She finished and turned to leave the group become silent, Flash approached her and quickly hugged her. Shayera hugged him, except for the Marvels, the speedster would have been the one who would have made her more sympathetic. The embrace ended and she left the room without turning back, determined to make a new start.
After she left, Flash mumbled:
"Great. No Hawkgirl, no Javelin, No Watchtower. What's gonna happen to the League now? Do we all just walk away?"
"No." J'onn declared with determination. "We rebuild, starting today."
"J'onn's right." approved Superman. "Earth still needs us, and we'll never let her down. It's our duty."
"What about Captain and Ms. Marvel?" asked Flash again.
Green Lantern lowered his eyes solemnly, reflecting again and again on everything that had happened in his mind. He really didn't know what to say.
Even Carol and Kamala didn't know what to say. They had not known Hawkgirl long, and yet they considered her a friend. They were saddened by her departure.
They both turned to her.
"Hawkgirl, are you sure?" asked Kamala with a sad face. "Resigning?"
Shayera nodded with sympathy.
"Carol, Kamala, I'm glad to know you both. Although I would have preferred that it happened under better circumstances. I appreciate very much that you consider me a hero. But now... I need to rebuild. I'm in a state of confusion after what happened, and I need to get my head together before I can help anyone. I don't know where I'm going yet. But I have to go, I have to."
Kamala nodded, but was a little disappointed to leave. While Carol gave her a look of encouragement.
"Good luck, Hawkgirl. And I hope for you that you find what you are looking for. No matter what anyone thinks of you, you'll always be a hero to me."
Shayera smiled at them radiantly before heading to the edge of the cliff near Wayne Manor. She heard someone approaching her, but did not turn around. She knew who it was.
"You never asked how we voted."
Shayera barely glanced at Green Lantern before turning to the ocean.
"It doesn't matter."
Green Lantern kept her eyes on and stood still a few steps away.
"So, where are you gonna go?"
"I don't know." she admitted, her eyes fixed on the sunset. "Someplace where the fate of the world isn't in my hands. Someplace where there are no more secrets. No more lies."
"Was it all a lie?" asked Green Lantern, the look of sorrow.
Shayera stopped for a moment before turning around, the sun setting behind her fully illuminating her, making her look like a real angel. She spoke to him without hesitation and with all her honesty:
"I love you, John. I never lied about that."
They then looked into each other's eyes for a few moments before she turned around and took off, spreading her wings as she jumped off the cliff. John took a step forward, his left hand stretched up before stopping. He watched her fly away, his arm falling to his side as he felt the tears flow from his eyes. It was only once she had left that he spoke the words he had not said to her.
"I love you, too."
The Marvels had watched her leave with mixed feelings. Kamala was upset at the couple's separation.
"They make me so sad." she mumbled saddened.
Carol gently laid her hand on her shoulder as a comfort.
"Me too. Shayera needs to find herself before she can continue being a hero. And she must go this way alone. She will come back, Kamala. I'm sure about that."
Somewhat comforted, Kamala was lulled by her great friend. They remained for a moment glued to each other while watching the sunset.
Then someone scratched his throat to challenge them. It was Alfred, who seemed visibly uncomfortable to intervene in this moment of tenderness.
"Miss Danvers. Miss Khan. They've sent for you. They asked to speak with you."
"Thank you, Alfred." Carol says to him with sympathy.
She nodded and returned to the Manor with Kamala on her heels.
Thank you for reading me.
I put this story on hold for the moment to devote myself to other stories. If you have suggestions for the rest of this story, I'm interested.