Unstoppable, Part 3
Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).
Note, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, Ancient Greek, English and Interlac
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Unit-00´s Cage
Shinji Ikari ran to Unit-00 plug, and jumped in. He ran the initial sequence and a moment later, the white cylinder slid into the giant humanoid.
In the core, Deadman felt his friend stirring back to consciousness. "Good. Hey, Rei! Guess who is at the controls!"
Rei seemed to appear next to the red-clad ghost as the start-up sequence advanced.
"It's my brother!" She exclaimed happily, clapping her little hands and doing a jumping dance. "He's saying Hello!"
"Great news, Kid! Now, let's see if we can get to the party before Commander Badbeard does something evil, okay?"
Rei nodded decisively. "Okay!"
Ruins of New York
A Possible XXVIth Century
STAR Labs Basement, Level 14
"(Procedure finalized. Clearing chamber.)" Brother Eye's digital voice informed. "(Checking vitals. Subject: Kamandi, aka Andrew Forest, currently unconscious. Heartbeat, fast, regular and strong, slowing, within expected parameters. Breathing, irregular, fast and shallow, slowing and deepening, within expected parameters. Blood pressure, high, within expected parameters, returning to normal parameters. Temperature, high but dropping fast, within expected parameters. Weight, increased by 2.46 pounds, within expected parameters. Brain activity, marked increase in Beta and Gamma waves, within expected parameters. Nanobots absorption, within satisfactory parameters. All vitals returning to normal levels. Chamber opening in 3 minutes.)"
Dr. Canus was the first to peek into the chamber. He had to turn his head to the side to peek through the narrow observation window with one eye. The room was full of smoke, but he could see a body laying on the ground. "(Is he okay? He is too still.)"
"(Kamandi's tolerance to pain is very high.)" Noted Brother Eye, "(…but the process was very painful. His body needs a few minutes to adjust to the injection of nanobots. His functions are returning to normal. He suffered damage to throat and vocal cords. The nanobots are repairing the damage as we speak.)"
Blue Beetle rubbed his right eye, by simply sliding two fingers under the goggle lens. "(Man, I had never heard screams like that! And I was there when Doomsday attacked (1), that monster tore through the JLI as if we weren't there. I'll be hearing Kamandi's screams in my nightmares!)"
"(An unfortunate side effect of the process.)" The sentient satellite noted, "(However, unless an unknown factor has affected Kamandi, Eye will be able to boost his capabilities to metahuman levels. Something that, according to the Phantom Stranger, will be crucial to returning the world's future to its correct course.)"
Booster disconnected the cables on his wrist unit, "(Hey, now that you mention it, how come you even met the guy? Shouldn't he be, I don't know, really ancient or really gone by now?)"
"(Accessing files: Eye was contacted by the Metahuman known as the Phantom Stranger the year 2256, August the 12th, from the former site of NERV-1, Germany. Replaying audiovisual file.)"
The image of a screen changed to show a static-filled transmission. A silhouette appeared in the image. It was a man, wearing a black suit or jacket, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses so dark the man almost appeared to be blind. His hair and beard were white as snow, cut severely short. He lacked the signature hat, and the cloak looked to be a simple garment. The golden chain around his neck was there, though the image was not detailed enough to see if it was the same design, and the golden medallion that hung from it, if it was there, wasn't visible in the image.
His voice, though, reverberated through the static interference.
"(Brother Eye. I'm contacting you to inform you of a possibility to undo the damage caused by Third Impact. Several time travelers will arrive to Earth in the future. They, along with a few individuals native to the era, can play a part into cancelling Third Impact and returning history to its proper course. They must be helped to travel to the former place of Tokyo-3, in Japan. They will need guidance to survive the perils of this era, and to reach the place for them to return to the XXIst century.)"
Brother Eye paused the file. "(A quick check on my archives showed that the Phantom Stranger had been a frequent collaborator of multiple heroes, mostly individually, or as an honorary member of the Justice League of America. Unfortunately, I had not the resources to investigate his claim, the reasons were obvious. Still, as he named the individuals involved, I recognized one name. Andrew Forest, the son of my creator, Professor Myra Forest.)"
"(Funny thing. I wouldn't have guessed his name is Andrew.)" Beetle said, leaning back onto a console and crossing his arms. "(Who else is in that list, Brother Eye?)"
"(The full list, as given to me, consists of: Andrew Forest, AKA Kamandi; Mari Ilustrious Makinami, AKA Fourth Child, AKA Problem Child; Theodore Stephen Kord, AKA Blue Beetle; Michael Jon Carter, AKA Booster, AKA Booster Gold; Dr. Canus, no registered alternate designations; and Nathaniel Christopher Adam, AKA Captain Atom.)
"(Captain Atom?)" Booster and Beetle exclaimed at the same time. Booster continued, "(He is here too? I mean, he is now? Forget it, what I want to know is: How?)"
Brother Eye changed the image on the screen, "(He was one of the JLI members who responded to the detonation of a nuclear bomb in the original Tokyo. He absorbed most of the energy, and quantum jumped to this era. As he reentered the time stream, he crashed into the current version of the area. According to data based on ocassional rumours and infrequent updates from the Sacker Emporium, the inhabitants of that region are enhanced raccoons and foxes.)"
Beetle snorted and rolled his eyes, "(Let me guess, Tanuki and Kitsune?)"
"(That's correct.)"
"(Wait, really? I was joking!)"
"(Those are the designations adopted by the current inhabitants of the area. Eye have little data about the place. Though Eye have observed a consistent influence of pre-Great Disaster human culture in the idiomatic conventions adopted by the Enhanced. Eye'll need to change orbit to gather and update information about the current state of the former Japan. A step Eye'm reluctant to take at the present time, as Eye would lose contact with you.)"
Booster nodded, "(Yeah, that would be terrible. I wouldn't bet much on our survival chances long term if it wasn't for you guys.)"
Skeets piped in, "(if you want, Sir, I could calculate the odds.)"
"(Thanks, Buddy, but I think I'm better not knowing.)"
"(I understand, Sir.)"
There was a long silence. "(So, what's next? The rats are still out there.)" Booster noted, thumbing behind him at the heavy doors.
Skeets piped in. "(The blast doors will hold the rats. We simply need to use a different exit, sir.)"
"(Wait, you mean we could have come in through a different route?)"
Brother Eye answered, "(There's an ancient Zoomway tunnel near New York, the Hairies built it for the Mountain of Judgement (2). Its route passes near Metropolis, all the way to Kirby County, where Project Cadmus was based (3). During the construction of this bunker, Dr. Forest managed to obtain and study an old Mighty Mole from Cave Carson (4), and redesigned it as Mole Driver; for evac in case the regular access ways were compromised. There is no direct connection to the Zoomway, the Mole Driver will make its own tunnel, and to prevent the rats from following you, it can set the tunnel to collapse after you.)" Brother Eye showed an image in the screen. It was a weirdly designed vehicle. The front consisted of several arrays of drills. Arranged to break down rocks and push the fragments behind. The main body was cylindrical, with four sets of paired tracks running the full length of the vehicle. One at the top, one at the bottom, ant the other two, on the sides of the vehicle. Behind it, a round hatch was the only access to its interior; between the front drill array, several round camera lenses allowed for some sight.
"(Now we are talking.)" Blue Beetle rubbed his hands together. "(I can't wait to tinker a bit with it.)"
In the infusion chamber, Kamandi groaned. With effort, he managed to push himself to sit, leaning on the support structure. His throat felt as if he had been gargling ground gravel. He gulped. A moment later, the door opened, and Dr. Canus and Booster Gold hurried to help him.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
Lt. Hyuga exclaimed, "Major Katsuragi? I just received notice that Unit-00 is at the middle of the start-up sequence!"
"What?" She turned around, but before she could ask anything, Commander Ikari spoke,
"Block the Unit, Lt. Hyuga. It is not authorized for operations. Check security video to identify the intruder. Major Katsuragi, you have a battle to manage."
"Yes, Sir." Both chorused.
Ruins of New York
Vantage point, ancient housing building (occupied by the Great Felines Coalition)
King Tuftan kept on watching the antics of the silver colossus. The moving statue had been dancing and singing for a very long time, weathering the rain of rat-made proyectiles as if it was nothing more than a light spring shower. Even from here, he could hear the mocking sound of her song, and the furious screams of the impotent rats.
A crackling hiss at his shoulder notified him of an incoming transmission. "(King Tuftan here.)" He said, lowering the binoculars.
The electronic voice that answered still made his tail cramp. "(Your Majesty, the procedure was successful. The rats that followed the group into the tunnels are contained safely at the blast doors, and won't be able to cause problems to Kamandi and his group. However, they won't be able to exit the complex by the same route. Alternate arrangements are being prepared. Your help is appreciated. Please activate the charges set at the south of the city and withdraw your forces.)"
Tuftan sighed in relief. "(Agreed, Brother Eye. The charges are set with a countdown time of thirty minutes.)"
"(Thank you, your majesty. We are indebted to you and the Great Felines Coallition.)"
Tuftan shrugged, "(Tell Kamandi that he and his friends will be always welcome in my kingdom. For as long as I, my Queen, and our sons live. May Grant guide their steps.)"
"(I'll communicate your words to him, King Tuftan. May your dynasty endure to the last sunset. And may your children walk among the stars.)"
"(You are getting awfully poetic, Brother Eye.)" Queen Sunmane quipped.
"(Perhaps.)" Brother Eye conceded, "(But it is a possible outcome of our actions today. Brother Eye out.)"
King Tuftan changed frequencies, "(Attention. Repeat, Attention. The time of roaming is now. Repeat, the time of roaming is now.)"
Queen Sunmane brought out a small device, while the group of bodyguards and soldiers with them began to store their stuff. "(Here it is, my love.)" She put the device in Tuftan's hands.
Tuftan nodded in thanks, and for a brief moment, studied the device. It was a simple box with a simple lid covering a simple button. He lifted the lid and pressed the button. "(Mark. Thirty minutes to activation. Everybody, it's time to roam.)"
All over the periphery of ancient New York, teams of enhanced jaguars and tigers withdrew back to their designated extraction points. Neither rats nor wolves even noticed their presence nor their absence; the rats were busy trying to damage Unit-04, and the wolves were busy watching the rats failing to cause any damage to Unit-04. In the opinion of King Tuftan and his generals and allies, that was the best result. To get close enough to an enemy as to touch them, to hold their lives in their paws, and leave without being noticed.
The full exercise was not only a way to help Kamandi, no. There was an additional benefit. Now that the great feline kingdoms had been unified under the same banner, they could plan on expanding their territory. The ruins of New York would be a nice addition to their lands, and provide advantageous terrain to engage the Gorilla tribes at the West of the city.
The explosive charges had been set in strategically placed ruins. The noise and dust were to distract the locals from noticing the groups leaving the city.
If only all battles could be so… clean…
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Unit-00´s Cage
Shinji gasped as the plug's light changed to a dim red. Instead of the video feed being displayed on the screens around him, a message read, in crimson letters over black, "Unauthorized Operation. System block."
"Damn!" He said, gritting his teeth for a moment, before a spike of pain reminded him he still had not received treatment.
A Possible XXXIst Century
Saturn Orbit
Brande's Orbital Shipyard 3 (in construction)
Jacques Rene Brande was a man of many worlds. He stood by the large observation deck of one of his many space stations. Saturn Shipyard 3, still in construction. It wasn't the largest dry dock in the whole Sol System, and the inauguration was scheduled in two months. It had been built to maintain UP medium-size ships, but today, after some last minute haggling, the station had been emptied of workers, and awaited the arrival of the Almeracian Delegation, carrying a big block of ice. Brainiac 5 and Invisible Kid were busy setting up a whole hangar for the thing. Full of non-invasive scanners.
Brande stood immobile. His mind firmly set in the past. The remote past. Back when he was the Martian Manhunter. A parade of faces and remembrances, of emotions and small stories. Friends and enemies, challenges, defeats and victories.
"(A thousand years. A thousand years, and I still miss you.)" He looked at his hands. For a moment, his hands looked like the hands of a young man. He smiled sadly. "(We saved the world. Misato, Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Ritsuko, Jemm and Cha'rissa, the JLT, and all the others.)"
Saturn Girl entered the room, holding an Omni-Comm. "(Mr. Brande? Brainy is ready. M'Onel is outside and can help guide the block to Bay 17. It's the closest one to the route Sensor sent.)"
Brande raised his eyes. "(Splendid, Imra! We can watch the maneuvers from here. Pull a pair of chairs and get comfortable.)"
Tunnel into the Tartarus
Under Themyscira
"(Hello, Bruce.)" Queen Diana of Themiscyra dropped a heavy sack on the entrance of the cave. Two white slits appeared at some distance.
"(I brought you iron and steel. I hope the tools we brought you last time have been useful.)"
A grunt answered, and the white slits opened in acknowledgement.
"(Will you stay there?)" She asked, "(I know you are comfortable in the dark, but I'd like to talk to you face to face.)"
A gravel-like voice answered, "(I have changed, Diana. Hades' permission had a price, and I am now closer to my…)" the voice hesitated, "(…totem.)"
Queen Diana shook her head sadly, "(After all the times we have fought evil together. After all the blood we have shed to protect innocents. After all the horrors we have kept bottled down in Tartarus. After all the worlds we have traveled. I have seen baleful changes to guilty and innocent, Bruce. Circe is not a legend to me. Neither is Medusa or Ares' brood. I respect you as an ally, and love you as a friend. Do you think so little of me?)"
There was a sigh from the cave. "(You are right. Of course you are right.)"
The shadow detached itself from the darkness of the cave, and advanced towards her.
Bruce Wayne's face was still recognizable, but strangely changed. His eyes were deep set under a strong brow. They were completely white now. His eyebrows were darker than before and his cheekbones more prominent, giving him a gaunt look. His ears were longer, and stood vertically at the sides of his head. An eerie echo of the mask he wore in life.
He smiled woefully, and a pair of sharp fangs were visible behind his lips.
He wore a simple tunic, his skin was now darker and rougher, almost like leather, covered by fine, black hair. A belt wrapped around his waist, and a multitude of weapons and tools hung from leather loops. Sharp claws in each finger and toe.
At his back, a scalloped cloak hung heavily.
Diana looked at him, and smiled. "(It becomes you.)" She took his clawed hand in hers, "(Come and part bread with me.)" Her pull was irresistible.
United States of America
Kansas, Kent Farm
Watchtower 3
"(Cap, there's a van coming!)" Oshi Fite (5) spoke to the intercom unit set in the 2nd North/East watch tower. She waited for an answer, and kept on watching through the binoculars. "(Black van, Bradstone brand, Slalom model, Gotham plates, number 22-45… RBN.)"
Captain Sal Arsala (6) answered. "(The Graysons' vehicle. Send me a visual, kid. Can you see the people inside?)"
Anita pushed a button on her binoculars. "(Sending image, Cap. Yeah, I can see driver and shotgun clearly. Driver is a Caucasian male, middle age, dark hair, graying. Shotgun is Caucasian female, middle age too, red hair. I give about 75% chance these are the Graysons. I can see movement behind the two, wait! Another Caucasian male is leaning between the front seats. He is older than the others, red head, graying. 60% that's Ralph Dibny.)"
"(Okay, the recog comp marks a positive. I'll tell Tefe to let them pass. You keep watch in case somebody follows them. Confirm.)"
"(Confirmed, Cap. Checking for tails. Oshi out.)"
"(Arsala out.)"
"(Been a long time since the last time I was here.)" Dick Grayson said, keeping his eyes on the dusty road.
From the back seats, he heard the voice of his adopted son, Bruce Wayne Jr. "(Hey, Dad. How many meta kids you say are here?)"
"(Enough to fund a new Teen Titans team, for both coasts. The Kents have been hosting the children of many heroes almost since Second Impact. The Martian Manhunter used to be around to help, but disappeared. He was in Japan, under one of his Japanese identities. Yuchiro Takata (7). No one knows if he is alive or dead.)"
Ralph Dibny scratched his nose. "(I've been looking at the known facts about it. His car was found abandoned back in 2002, or was it 2003 (8)? It was neatly parked. No signs of a struggle. Like he just parked there, left the car behind, and vanished. It's even possible that his local identity was the target of a kidnapping, he was rich and influential as head and founder of New Concept Industries, but there was no reason for him to cut all contact. Something bad happened, that's for sure. J'Onn wasn't the type to just pack his stuff and go. Especially if that meant leaving children behind.)"
The three Dibny kids exchanged worried looks among themselves and with Bruce Jr. The latter nodded back. "(This is not a game, guys. My father and most of his family and closer team-mates died saving the world. We could die too, or worse.)" He tilted his head towards the occupants of the front seats. The message was clear.
Dick Grayson spoke then. "(We would prefer not to involve you in this. If any of you want to back down, just say it. We won't think badly of you.)"
Barry Dibny shook his head. "(No way, we are all in. All the way. Even if we have to stay in Search and Rescue.)"
Sue Dibny squeezed her husband's hand. He hugged her back, they looked at each other's eyes, holding a complete, silent conversation with just a few facial expressions. "(I'll go with you, kids. Heck, most of the adults at the farm will go too, powers or not. I am familiar with tactics and a good shot if needed. Several of the adults here are ex law enforcement or former government agents.)"
Barbara Grayson nodded. "(Dick and I will provide intelligence and coordination. Oracle and Delphos will be liaising with whomever the Phantom Stranger has recruited.)"
"(Which reminds me…)" Dick noted, "(How is our little program doing?)"
"(It's still working on it. I am sure the code will be cracked by the end of the year. Right now it's looking for any back doors the original programmers left.)"
"(I really hate BioWare based systems. They get creative.)"
"(That's why we're using some XXXIst Century tech, dear.)"
"(Nice of Krynn (9) to leave that Omnicomm (10) unit behind.) Dick grinned.
"(And Bart (11) translated its version of Interlac to modern English so he could play present day games with it!)"
The group laughed at the idea. The most advanced piece of tech in the whole world was basically a tablet full of video games. And they were using it to hack the second most advanced tech in the world with the XXXIst century equivalent to Pac-Man!
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Huntres stepped back, keeping the colossal Angel on sight. Again and again, the ribbons tried to strike at her Evangelion. Only her training in armed combat and a full reliance on her muscle memory and Wildcat's training allowed her to parry, dodge or block each strike.
"Control! It's driving me back!" She reported, "Gnngh! It's keeping me away from the next charging station!"
Unit-01 wasn't idle, it was running towards the Angel. Its steps sounded like thunder in the enclosed space.
"Resist, Huntress." Rei said as the purple Evangelion attacked the enemy's left flank, driving the Sonic Glaive towards the ridiculously small head. Zeruel's head turned minutely, and a colorful series of octagons appeared between the two giants.
"ATF detected!" Lt. Aoba reported. Behind him, Dr. Akagi added, "The readings are out if the scale! It's the most powerful ATF we have encountered!"
Asuka nodded, "But it's not in this side!" She attacked again, and the Sonic Glaive struck the Angel's body, right as it turned to face Unit-01. There was an almost metallic sound as the point hit the body, next to the gleaming red gem of the exposed core, but there was no wound on it.
"Though guy, uh?" She mumbled.
Zeruel turned its head back. Deep in the darkness of its eyes, Asuka saw an ominous glow, almost mesmerizing, that demanded her full attention. She barely heard a pinging noise, frantically accelerating biting it became a buzz at the edge of her hearing.
She barely registered Misato's words, but nonetheless, she obeyed the order, "Huntress, dodge! It's gonna shoot you!" The red Evangelion ducked with amazing speed for its size.
The eyeblast hit Unit-02 in the left shoulder pylon, a section of it was neatly vaporized, including the Progessive Knife storage and the weapon itself, the upper section fell to the ground, embedding itself in the dirt. "Hell! That was a disintegrator beam!"
Misato stood transfixed for a second. "Huntress, disengage and reconnect your umbilical. Wonder Girl, keep attacking, buy time for Huntress. Be careful. This thing is too hard. Be ready to dodge and disengage at your discretion."
"Understood." Both pilots chorused. Unit-01 redoubled it's attack with the Sonic Glaive.
As Unit-02 retreated cautiously, Zeruel's arm wrapped around its ankle, tripping the titanic war machine. "Hey!" Asuka protested, but her oncoming tirade was rudely interrupted as Zeruel pulled its arm, dragging EVA-02.
Zeruel spun over itself, and the sudden spin dragged Unit-02 over the ground, lifting it, putting it in a collision course against Unit-01.
Rei saw the red giant almost flying towards her, and dropped the Sonic Glaive to the ground, in an effort to catch EVA-02.
Author Notes
(1) During the Death of Superman event, published back in 1992. It has been reprinted several times since.
(2) The Zoomway, the Hairies, and the Mountain of Judgement were created by Jack Kirby during his run in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (all debuted in issue 134, Dec, 1970, the whole Kirby run has been reprinted several times too). The Hairies are related to Project Cadmus. In short, the Hairies are enhanced human clones, highly intelligent and pacifists to the core, kinda like super-hippies with an affinity for technology. They abandoned Project Cadmus to live in a mobile city, the Mountain of Judgement, that for some reason, looks like a monster on wheels. They travel constantly through the Zoomway, a tunnel system that tends to stay close to Metropolis, but there were some rumours the Zoomway actually covered most of the USA continental territory.
(3) Project Cadmus debuted in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen issue 133 (Oct. 1970)
(4) Professor Calvin "Cave" Carson and his team were explorers of the underworld, they debuted in The Brave and the Bold issue 31 (Sept , 1960). As a curious note, his Secret Origin story hinted that his adventures had been just delusional (Secret Origins, issue 43, Aug, 1989)
(5) Technically, Oshi Fite is the mother of Empress, member of Young Justice, though as she and her husband were returned to childhood, Empress adopted both as her own children. She debuted in Young Justice, Issue 32, (Jun 2001)
(6) Captain Brian "Sal" Arsala used to be part of the Special Crimes Unit in Washington, D.C., and was the lover of the second Dove. He debuted in Hawk & Dove issue 3 (Dec 1988)
(7) One of many identities the Martian Manhunter kept around the world. Yuchiro Takata debuted in Martian Manhunter Issue 2 (Jan, 1999).
(8) Mentioned in Chapter 8 of this story.
(9) Rokk Krynn, AKA Cosmic Boy, he was part of a group of Legionnaires that were stranded in the XXth Century for a while. This version of the character debuted in Legion of Superheroes, Issue 0 (Oct, 1994)
(10) The Omnicomm is basically a very advanced tablet.
(11) Bart Allen, AKA Impulse. He was originally born in the XXXth (or XXXIst) century, but was sent to the past to save his life, he has a very short span of attention. He debuted in Flash, Issue 92 (Jul, 1994). He was a founding member of Young Justice.