Unstoppable, Part 4
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, English.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Unit-00´s Plug
As the lights in the plug dimmed, Shinji Ikari reigned in the impulse to hit the control yoke. 'That would be useless. Worse, it could break something.' Inner Robin advised. The Third Child exhaled a lungful of LCL, the taste of blood sticking to his nostrils.
He closed his eyes. With an effort, he forced himself to calm down.
Quintessence Plane
The body of a naked man floated in the infinite black space, next to the slowly spinning planet. His skin pale and cold. Flesh, bone, muscle and skin gradually returning to normal. The hair was last to be recreated. It grew slowly back to its usual length.
Twin shadows hid the eyes. The face relaxed into a neutral expression, free of worry and guilt.
The voice of a woman broke the silence, "Nice to talk to you, Isaac. Don't be a Stranger!" And a crystal-like giggle. "(I'll see you later. I'll give your regards to my sister! Remember, you have to get her something really special!)"
The body drew breath for the first time since the explosion at Matsushiro. Two white slits seemed to glow in the shadows. Just for a fleeting moment. The eyes closed again.
Around the body, his clothes began to appear, like a wave of mist becoming solid.
The golden medallion that hung from his neck would need a long time to manifest.
Luthor's Refuge
Somewhere Near Central City (1)
The alarm rang loudly in the luxurious bedroom. The only occupant of the room opened his green eyes and looked around, taking in the opulence around him. The room was so much bigger than the crappy apartment he had spent his early years in.
Yawning, he passed a hand over his bald head. He felt a little bit of stubble at the back. Time to shave.
Walking to the bathroom, equally opulent, though primarily designed with practical matters in mind, he patted his belly. "(Flabby. I better get back to the gym.)" He thought.
He took care of the most urgent matters first, then he took a scalding shower, followed by a cold one, to get the blood pumping.
A few minutes with a lather and a razor, and he was presentable again. A splash of extravagantly expensive aftershave, and he was ready to enjoy his day.
He returned to the bedroom, and for a moment, he studied the big, impressive portrait that hung at an otherwise empty wall (2). It bore no title, as the face was instantly recognizable.
Lex Luthor, multi-billionaire, philanthropist, patrón of arts, culture and education, technical genius, and former President of the United States of America, two full terms during the most difficult years since the Great Depression. And privately, one of the most petty, spiteful, and hypocritical men in the world. One who made a hobby of ruining lives while presenting an almost saintly facade to the world. The man who waged a private war against, first Superman, and then, most of the heroes of the country whenever and by any means that meant he wouldn't risk himself. An army of patsies had gone to jail, framed of his sins. Some had spent years in jail, some fled from the authorities or tried to prove their innocence. All over the country, there were many metaphorical shallow graves for those too stubborn to act sensibly.
In the end, nothing had actually stuck to Lex Luthor's good name. Not for any length of time, anyway. Though there were some who suspected, of course, or actually knew, but they had no proof of even the smallest sin or crime.
But that was in the past. He was retired. After his second term ended, he retired from public life, to live a life of well deserved luxury.
Ocassionally, he signed a donation or two. Some idle millions served to reactivate the country's economy, after all. And sponsoring schools, colleges, and museums was a small hobby he could well afford.
He studied the portrait, the calculated cruelty in the eyes, disguised as decisiveness, the firm and intimidating posture, the black glove covering the right hand, ravaged by Kryptonite radiation and, back then, replaced by a bionic prosthetic. Since then, cloning technology had allowed Luthor to fake his dead, and replace himself with the identity of a previously unknown son, in perfect health, of course (3). All a well planned lie, as the suppossed son was nothing but a cloned body, a vessel for Luthor's brain, extracted from a dying body and implanted into a younger body, at the peak of his health. He felt for the minute scar in his scalp and smiled.
He sat at the edge of the night stand, mimicking the posture and the expression of the portrait. He snickered. "(That man is dead.)" He thought with a big, satisfied smile. "(I better hurry to the gym. I have a very busy day.)"
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
The red Evangelion was released, spinning in the air, in a collision course with its purple partner. Somehow, its Pilot fought the disorientation.
At the controls of Unit-01, Wonder Girl dropped the Sonic Glaive, and prepared to catch Unit-02.
The crash was almost enough to overcame her, but after a quick back step, Unit-01 stood its ground, and cushioned the hit. She turned the titanic cyborg around, bleeding the momentum in a graceful spin.
At the end of the turn, she released the red EVA Unit.
In the control plug of EVA-02, Huntress calculated the movement, and as Unit-01 released its grip, she directed her own EVA to a three points landing, grabbing at the ground and digging the heels, until stopping. Both EVAs crouched low. Unit-02 grabbed the dropped Sonic Glaive, while EVA-01 released the mag lock of the pair of Smash Hawks at its back.
"Huntress, get the umbilical, I'll cover you." Wonder Girl sent as Unit-01 took a defensive stance, wielding its twin axes.
"Got it, Wonder Girl. Control, I'm retreating for the moment." Wary of an attack, Huntress guided the EVA to walk backwards as fast as she dared, keeping an eye on the enemy most of the time, and ocassionally glancing at a small holo screen, showing the area behind the EVA or at the timer that counted the seconds until the batteries were drained of energy.
"Go ahead, Huntress. Wonder Girl, engage the Angel." Major Katsuragi ordered, her voice even, hiding the tension she felt at the so far, unstoppable invasion of their base of operations.
"Engaging."
The Fourteenth Angel unfolded its arms to full length, striking at the retreating Evangelion. A quick parry with the glaive saved the red Evangelion from decapitation, while its partner struck with the Smash Hawk, trying to cut the ribbon-like arm.
Unfortunately, the axe hit the very edge of Zeruel's arm. The mono-molecular edge won over human tech. The head of the Smash Hawk split cleanly in half. Rei's momentary distraction was very costly, as the Angel took the chance.
Blindingly fast, Zeruel's arm cut cleanly through Unit-01's right biceps. The arm fell to the ground, a high-pressure spurt of purplish blood squirted from the stump. Wonder Girl screamed in the plug, while Yui Ikari's soul screamed in the core.
Before anybody could react, Zeruel struck again, cutting the left arm at the shoulder.
"Wonder Girl's synch is falling!" Lt Ibuki reported urgently, "it's down to 40% and dropping! She's going into shock!"
"Cut the A-10 connection!" Major Katsuragi ordered.
"Cancel that order, Lt. Ibuki." Commander Ikari said calmly. "Rei, retreat." Misato heard the order and barely contained herself. 'What?' She thought, before returning her attention to the fight.
From the plug, Wonder Girl's voice answered, trembling with pain and shock. "…U-underst-t-tood…" Unit-01 swayed on its feet, trying to obey the order. It managed four steps away, before falling to its knees. With a titanic effort, Rei managed to stand again, almost blinded by the pain.
"Lt. Ibuki, reduce A-10 connection to a 30% synch max." Commander Ikari ordered.
"Reducing connection. Synch rate at 35%, 33%, 31%, 29%, stabilizing. Wonder Girl? Can you move?" She asked, worried.
"…Y-yes… retreating to platform… hatch… I can't see… the number…"
"Don't worry about that, Rei, just get to the hatch and we will manage the rest." Major Katsuragi said, keeping a forced calm in her voice, "Huntress, hurry up and get your umbilical. If you run out of energy, you won't be able to fight."
"Gnnn…" Asuka grit her teeth in frustration. "Roger, Control." Asuka walked back, holding the Sonic Glaive defensively.
Behind the Commander, Fujutsuki asked, in a barely audible whisper. "Removing her from danger?" He didn't meant Rei.
Gendo caught the meaning, and nodded minutely. "Rei is expendable. Unit-01 isn't." He said coldly.
Zeruel floated serenely above the dark landscape. The floating dust blocked the sunlight, submerging the GeoFront into a false night.
Unit-02 retreated cautiously towards the closest charging pylon, watched all the time by the floating titan.
She opened the right hand of the EVA, and groped for the umbilical plug. She grabbed it without losing sight of the enemy.
As she was about to insert the plug at Unit-02's connection, the empty sockets of the Angel seemed to burn with white light.
A blast of energy caught Evangelion-02 in the middle of the chest.
Asuka screamed in agony as darkness enveloped her.
United States of America
Kansas
Kent Farm, Underground Training Facilities (4)
"(We can begin whenever you are ready.)" Dick Grayson said, looking at the assembly of faces around him, some belonged to teenagers, just a few years older than he was the first time he put on a mask and a colorful costume; there were a few adults, some he recognized, some were known only by reputation or secure line exchanges; and the oldest of all, right in the middle of the front line, Jonathan and Martha Kent.
Pa Kent stood up, and waved at the small crowd, he leaned into the microphone set at the podium. "(Your attention, please. Our guests have something very important to tell us.)" A moment later, the hushed conversations stopped gradually. He nodded at his new guest and sat back, "(All yours, son.)"
Dick leaned on his cane before speaking. "(Good morning, everybody. I am Richard Grayson. Though everybody calls me 'Dick', I'm actually a good guy.)" He waited for the snickering to end. "(With me, my beautiful wife, Barbara Grayson, née Gordon, our son, Bruce Wayne Junior, and the Dibny family, Ralph, Sue, Hal, Barry and Diana.)" Each one waved as they were named.
"(We are here to help prepare all the people, metahumans or regular humans, who will be called by the Phantom Stranger to fight in the near future. We don't know exactly what the problem is, but it will be in Japan, in Tokyo-3.)"
A pale girl with white hair raised her hand, "(Will we fight Angels?)" She paused for a moment, a woman with striking white hair and black streaks whispered something at the girl "(Sorry, I'm Tefé Holland (5), daughter of Swamp Thing (6) and Abby Holland (7). Please don't ask questions.)" She tilted her head towards the woman.
Dick shook his head, "(That is well over our power level. I think we will act in a support role. Most heavy hitters… um… no sense in cotton-padding this... Most high power heroes died, disappeared, or were off-planet after Second Impact hit, or soon after. And the ones in space can't return at the moment, as the whole world is hidden from the rest of the universe by both magic and otherworldly technology. Normally, I wouldn't think of putting untested kids in battle, trained or not, but the Stranger hinted that unless everybody pulled their weight, the world would end.)"
A blond woman stood. "(Cissie King-Jones, formerly Arrowette II (8). I… I'm not sure what can I do. Back before Second Impact I was a member of Young Justice, but a bad decision led me to retire (9). I won't shoot at a human being again. Not with arrows or bullets.)"
"(I remember your case.)" Dick said, looking at his notes. "(I see you have been certified as a First Responder. You could be on the Emergency team.)"
Cissie nodded, "(Count me in then.)" She turned to the red headed girl next to her, "(If you really want to go, be careful, Lian (10). Remember what happened to your father.)"
The Girl played with an arrowhead hanging from her neck. "(I'm not in this for revenge, Cissie. But to honor him. I will even use his arrows! It's been a long time since the last time a crook got a boxing glove arrow to the face!)"
Barbara followed, "(I have a tentative list of your possible roles in a fight; But these are flexible positions. We have drawn general plans for urban combat in the Tokyo-3 area, using the available maps of the city, plus we are in the process of obtaining schematics for the GeoFront under the city, just in case. We prepared basic contingency plans for attacks from air, sea, land and even underground; infiltration and sabotage, rescue and exfiltration, evacuation, and fighting retreat, both as attackers and defenders. We even included zombie apocalypse style threats, as Starro (11) was basically a zombie plague by itself, but a curable plague. We drew parallels from the JLA and JLU Archives. We used your files to assign you to possible roles as Front line, Defense, Stealth, Search and Rescue, and Medical units. We want to discuss our plans and make adjustments if you think you'll be more effective in a different role. And will enact drills and simulations to help you all work as teams.)" He paused, leaning on his cane, "(Plus, we will have some Allies there, if the Stranger manages to bring them to bear in time.)" He sat down with a grimace, massaging his bad leg. Driving had been heavy on his damaged muscles and bones, but Barbara, Ralph and Sue had already taken turns to drive, Barbara with her modified set of controls on her side of the van.
Now it was Ralph's turn. "(Hello, everybody! I'm Ralph Dibny, once the world-famous Elongated Man!)" There were a few whispers among the public, but he didn't mind. "(I used a kind of drink to get my stretching power, but as the supply dried out after Second Impact, I'm just a regular guy now, but! But even as a regular Joe, I've kept up training and drilling. Im a good shot and detective. My kids inherited my power, but they don't need the drink.)" He swept his hand towards his children, who waved at the crowd with different levels of enthusiasm. "(Back in the day, stretching was seen as a joke power, and I admit that myself and my colleague Plastic Man, used it to have some fun, but it's an incredibly versatile power, and a quick mind will come up with ways to surprise your adversaries. The same can be said about almost any power or skill, especially if you don't look the part. Dick, Barbara and yours truly can help you develop strategies and find unusual ways to use your powers and skills!)"
Many kids exchanged looks. That was new!
A skinny teenager of African descent raised a hand, "(I've trained under Ishido Maad (12) tutelage!)"
Dibny looked at him. "(Good reputation! Mr. Maad?)"
A short middle aged man with Asian features stood up. "(Standard A.P.E.S. (13) training. Donnie here is my best student. But all the kids have learned well, and I myself am in good fighting form.)"
"(Excelent! Mind a match against one of our kids?)" Dibny leaned on the podium. "(We all need to know everybody else's style, after all.)"
Behind him, Barry was stretching his arms, waving around. "(Me! Me!)"
Barbara put a hand on Barry's shoulder. "(That's second stage sparring, Barry. First stage is no powers.)"
The kid deflated, "(oh… I forgot.)"
Bruce Jr. stood up and took his jacket off. "(I guess it's on me, then.)" He rolled his shoulders, "(You'll get your turn in the next stages.)" Ther fists bumped.
"(Right!)" Barry smiled, while his siblings ruffled his hair.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Unit-00´s Plug
Even isolated in the plug, Shinji felt the tremors caused by the fight. He hoped with all his soul that his fellow pilots wouldn't need his help. But he had no way to know until his comms were active again.
In the core, Rei fell asleep, leaving a dumbfounded Deadman behind, "Now, what in Gotham happened?" He said, unheard inside the red core of the first functional Evangelion.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
The Angel looked at its fallen enemy for a long, silent moment.
A column of smoke rose from the fallen body.
Zeruel turned back to the glass and steel pyramid. Unopposed, its eyes lit up slowly, building up the energy charge.
Author Notes
(1) Central City used to be the home of the second Flash, Barry Allen. It debuted, along with the second Flash himself, in Showcase 4 (Oct 1956)
(2) The portrait of Lex Luthor, as described, was the cover for the one-shot, "Lex Luthor, The Unauthorized Biography". It has popped around ocassionally as an actual portrait of Luthor.
(3) Lex Luthor Jr. Luthor faked his death flying in an untested prototype. His brain, eyes, and nerve system were removed from his body, and put into a cloned body. The supposed son was named in Luthor's testament as heir of Luthor's money and assets. Jr. Surfaced in Australia, and took control of Lexcorp, pretending to be a good guy. The story ran in the Superman titles during the early 1990s, and is currently available as a single volume, titled "They Saved Luthor's Brain!"
(4) Built during the Martian Manhunter's stay.
(5) Tefé Holland has a very complicated story. Basically, Swamp Thing possessed John Constantine's body to impregnate his wife. Tefé is connected to both the Green (the semi-sentient living force of plants) and the Red (the vital force of animals), but due to Constantine's tainted blood, her soul is tainted too. Tefé debuted in Swamp Thing issue 90 (Dec 1989)
(6) Swamp Thing was created when Alec Holland was murdered with an incendiary bomb near a swamp. He rose as a monstruous looking creature, made of muck and plants. For a long time, he tried to restore his humanity, but turned out that Holland had died in the fire, and his memories provided a template for the new avatar of the Green. He debuted in Swamp Thing Issue 1 (Nov 1972)
(7) Abby Holland debuted in Swamp Thing issue 3 (Mar 1973) as Abby Arcane, niece of the evil sorcerer Anton Arcane, she eventually married Matt Cable (who debuted in Swamp Thing issue 1) an agent for Defense Department Intelligence, but they divorced in very complicated circumstances. Abby became Swamp Thing's lover and considers herself his wife.
(8) Arrowette II debuted in Impulse issue 28 (Aug 1997).
(9) After a friend of hers was murdered, Arrowette chased the killer into a nearby forest, and tried to kill him after a long hunt. Superboy caught the arrow just in time to stop Arrowette from becoming a murderer. (Young Justice issue 15, Dec 1999). Cassie decided she wouldn't risk the temptation, and retired from super heroics. She became an Olympic level archer.
(10) Lian Harper, daughter of Roy Harper, AKA Speedy/Arsenal, and the villainess Cheshire. Lian debuted in New Teen Titans 21 (Jun 1986). I must stress that the events in Justice League: Cry for Justice didn't happen in this story.
(11) Starro the Conqueror, a gigantic space Starfish. He was the first published enemy of the Justice League of America. He can create a multitude of small copies of himself, that attach themselves to the face of any person around, controlling their bodies. Removing the starfish can be tricky. A very different version of Starro was featured in the second Suicide Squad movie. Starro debuted in The Brave and the Bold issue 28 (Mar 1960)
(12) Ishido Maad, originally partner of Donald Fite, debuted in Young Justice issue 1 (Sept 1998). His creator, Peter David, has an incredible fondness of bad puns, as the pair was always presented as Fite 'n Maad.
(13) All Purpose Enforcement Squad, another secret government agency. It's first appearance was also in Young Justiceissue 1.