Vertigo, Part 13
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.
Notes, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, English, Interlac, and Russian.
Day Seven
Tokyo
Supergirl Museum
(Spiritual Plane)
Before continuing, the Phantom Stranger raised his head, as if listening to some faint sound, coming from far away. He turned to the two pilots, who still watched Brainiac's Ship as it attacked the Lexcorp Building and the heroes gathered inside it.
"I'm afraid we will have to cut short the history lesson; an urgent matter requires my immediate attention. We will continue soon."
Shinji nodded. "It's okay, I have some newspaper cuttings and magazine articles about it. At least the Earth side. Though I guess they are lacking details."
The Stranger nodded, "Certainly. I will return you two to Major Katsuragi's Apartment."
Hikari bit her lip for a moment. "Is there something we can do to help?"
"No. You are not ready. And I hope you won't ever need to go where I have to go now." He opened a door, and they could see it was the main door of the apartment.
Shinji and Hikari crossed the threshold, and the door slid silently closed behind them. The colors returned to their usual shades.
"That was weird." Hikari commented, as she walked to the kitchen counter. Shinji followed. A quick look at the wall clock showed they had been away for about three minutes. Plenty of time before Rei and Kensuke arrived.
"You'll get used to it." Shinji shrugged. Hikari looked at him for a moment.
Hell
The Phantom Stranger walked through a cold and desolate landscape. His impassive face didn't change, despite the desolation. Each step driving him deeper and deeper into the darkness and cold. The upper levels of Hell were so overcrowded after Second Impact, that it was better to use a shortcut into the lowest level; though dangerous, it was more expedite.
Under his feet, sharp rock that would have turned even the best and most rugged shoes to shreds in a short time. But they didn't affect him. His steps as sure as always.
He stopped as he heard a furious howling. He was close. The howl sounded again. It was full of frustration, pain, anger and madness.
But it was not a monster.
He kept his descent.
Finally, he arrived to a heavy gate, closed with seven locks, and warded by a figure dressed with a red tunic and a ragged purple cloak. The figure's skin was yellow, the eyes completely red, the ears looked like some kind of fin or batwing, and two short horns crowned his bald head.
Respectfully, the Stranger bowed his head, and stopped seven steps away from the gate.
"(Here comes one who has no name
To deepest pits of Hell so foul
Where dwells a truly wrathful soul
And see if the chain holds the same.)"
The Phantom Stranger sighed, "Etrigan." (1)
The Demon smiled ferociously, but didn't move from his place.
"(The time is near.)" The Stranger said, and a cackle resounded in the cave.
"(To the Abyss he himself did bring his wrath
By his own Free Will he bore the chains
Chained in Hell he will remain
'Til to the Sinners there's a path.)"
The Stranger raised his left hand. On the palm, appeared a sphere of light. Etrigan stumbled back, until he crashed onto the gate. It shook in response.
"(Let me pass.)" The Stranger closed his hand, blocking the light.
Etrigan took a moment to regain his composure.
"(A lame-brained endeavor, yet so brave
Can only bring sorrows and tears
And if you insist, as it appears
I will be glad to dig your grave.)"
The Demon jumped away from the gate, to a nearby rock, and wrapped himself in his cloak, looking like a gargoyle.
The Stranger came near the gate, he touched it, and the seven locks opened one after the other. He breathed deeply, and crossed the threshold.
In the bottom of the Abyss, he found a green mountain, howling and shaking furiously. Three figures stood guard between the mountain and the Stranger. A 30-something woman, with dark, curly hair and soulful eyes (2); an armored white Angel, a true Angel, holding a flaming sword in his right hand (3); and the most incongruous of the trio, a chubby policeman, wearing an outdated uniform that looked like it belonged to the 1930s, twirling his nightstick (4).
The woman looked at the Stranger. "(He is getting angrier each day. Soon we won't be able to keep him here.)
The policeman stopped his game and put the nightstick back in its ring. "(He is hanging by the skin of his teeth, Stranger.)"
"(My companions speak the truth.)" Said the Angel, "(He's losing his mind in there.)"
"(I bring news, and some hope. If we are lucky, it will be enough.)"
The trio stepped aside, letting the Stranger pass. The mysterious man stood silently in front of the green mountain, waiting.
Finally, the prisoner calmed his fury enough to notice there was company. A rumbling growl cut through the rarefied air. Two white eyes peered from the shadows of the cowl, trying to recognize the intruder.
The Phantom Stranger advanced one step.
The giant's breathing quickened, a hand covered by a green glove grabbed the Stranger like a doll. Lifting him closer to the deathly pale face in the shadows.
"(Soon.)" The Phantom Stranger said. "(They still hide from our sight, but the means to take their protection away are almost ready.)"
A chilling laughter filled the Abyss. All around, demons of all kind and rank abandoned whatever they were doing, looked at each other, and trembled in fear.
"(Yesssss!)" The white eyes closed for a moment. The hand lowered the Phantom Stranger down to the jagged rock floor. "(Murderers and sinners have escaped the bitter reward for the blood they spilled for far too long. Their punishment will be beyond anything ever seen on the Mortal Plane.)"
"(They have earned every iota of your Wrath, Spectre; but I must ask you to wait a little more. The Relic I'll use to reveal them is not ready yet.)"
"(Then, the fire of my anger shall burn colder and wait for a little longer. Do not waste time, Stranger, punishment shall not be delayed a single minute longer than necessary.)"
There was a feeling of gleeful anticipation in the foul air of Hell. The Stranger walked back to the gate.
He stopped to chat a moment with the three custodians.
"(I appreciate your call for me.)"
The woman shook her head sadly. "(I fear Jim will lose himself in the Spectre. He has never been thwarted so effectively for so long.)"
"(SEELE covered their tracks perfectly. Not even the Spectre knew about their presence until Deadman stumbled into their activities. I count myself fortunate you and Officer Poplasky managed to calm him down before he burned the world to cinders, Miss Beitterman.)"
The policeman paced around. "(Yeah. I had never seen Jimbo that angry! And we go way back to the 1940s.)"
"(No other Spectre had faced such an act of murder.)" Noted the Angel. "(That it took so long to be found out as such only complicated matters.)"
The Stranger looked at each one in turn. "(SEELE's subterfuge won't protect them much longer. And the Spectre won't be denied revenge anymore.)"
"(What will happen then, Stranger?)" Amy Beitterman asked, rubbing her arms. "(Will he damn himself as his predecessors did?)" (5)
"(It will depend on him. His journey was derailed by Third Impact, all we can do is support him and try to keep him from losing his chance.)"
Day Eight
Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront; NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages
Unit-00's Core.
"Hey, kid! Had a nice nap?" Rei I opened her eyes at hearing that voice. She saw the smiling ghost floating close to her.
"Boston-san!" The little girl jumped into Deadman's arms, hanging from his neck in a tight hug.
"I got you some good news!" Deadman pushed her a bit away, so he could see her face. "First, There's nothing left of the Angel, though it did a big mess in the end. Second, Dr. Dyehard and her team put Unit-00 together again. New arm and everything. Shinji and your big sister are okay, though Red won't be around for a while. Kinda like a vacation trip. She's with her Mommy."
"Oh, good." Rei smiled happily. "Are we gonna fight an Angel today?"
"Nope. Dr. Dyejob just wanted to check the systems, run some tests. Nothing big, just checking everything is connected where it's supposed to. There will be an activation test in a few days. For now, we have a few free hours. What would you like to do?"
"Teach me a song!" She clapped her little hands with enthusiasm. "Queen!"
"You're a fan, uh?" Deadman smiled at her. "Ah, I have a fun one! There was a movie about a hero in space, and Queen was in charge of the music."
A short explanation later, both ghosts were over dramatically dancing, with Deadman in the main voice and mimicking the instruments; and Rei in the chorus.
"Flash! "
"Ah-aaah!"
Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront; NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages
Control Room
Dr. Akagi massaged the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. "Damn that anomaly!" She growled. "At least it's not interfering with Unit-00's workings." She checked the last readings from Unit-02. "Well, it has not shown up in Unit-02 anymore. Maybe it's a self-correcting problem." She hoped.
It didn't occur to her that the cause could be external.
Moscow; Russia
Somewhere in the Outskirts of the City
"(It hurts to use my power, Rasputin.)" A blonde woman, who looked much older than her 30 or so years, sat next to the fire of the chimney.
"(I am sorry, and i would not ask if it was not important, Serafina. Just a surface check, that's all I need.)"
She sighed, and caressed the five red stars in her necklace. "(Very well,)" she sighed. The man called Rasputin stood by the window, peeking carefully at the outside. At the other end of the road, two figures jumped down from a horse-drawn cart. They looked like a blonde man, and a deformed child. Rasputin focused, and looked beyond the glamour. The man didn't change, but in place of the supposed child, an adult chimpanzee walked next to the man.
"(Here they come. Any tails?)"
She tilted her head, a grimace of pain twisting her features. "(No. They are clear. There no one in at least 500 meters (1640.4 feet) around.)"
"(Excelent. Any outside interference?)"
"(No. Both are acting on their own Free Will.)"
"(Thank you, Serafina. You may retire if you want."
"I'll stay. I never had the chance to meet other Westerners after Second Impact, just those with Uncle Mikhail when he was part of Firestorm.)" (6)
Rasputin nodded solemnly. "(Good thing I have enough mugs for everybody.)" He opened the door just as John Constantine was about to knock.
"(Well, well, well." He smirked, "Looking good, Gregori. Life been treating you well."
"(Indeed. Hello John, Chimp. Come on in, warm your bones next to the fire. The tea will be ready in a few minutes.)"
"(Only you can stand that swill.)" Constantine snorted, before noticing the blonde woman on the wheelchair. "(Who's she?)" He pointed with his thumb.
"(She's our insurance, John. Serafina Arkadin, formerly known as Firebird (7). Serafina, this is John Constantine, my English counterpart; and of course, you already know Detective Chimp.)"
She nodded, moving the chair to face them. "(I'm also the one who vetoes you, so mind your manners, Brit.)" She waved at his companion who waved back and pointed at his throat. He kept the scarf on. She addressed the ape, "(Laringitis?)" Detective Chimp nodded, and showed her a notebook, the page read, "(The Vet said I shouldn't talk for three more days.)" She nodded, and poured him a tea cup.
Constantine ignored the exchange. "(Yeah, sure. So, what's your story? Fan of Tchaikovsky?)" (8)
She snorted, "(Your reputation precedes you, Constantine, so does your ignorance, it's Stravinsky you're thinking of (9). You are as abrasive as I expected. No. Not a fan of his music (10). I loved Russian mythology when I was a child, so, when my friends and I got powers, I convinced them to form a group of superheroes, Soyuz; we took names from Russian mythical creatures. I'm sure you never heard of us, anyway. We were way over our heads, we retired after a couple of outings, and then Second Impact killed us." She put her necklace inside her blouse. "We were helping with rescue operations, and something went very wrong. I felt them die. I broke my back in a fall. And here we are.)"
"(Telepath, uh. Sorry about your friends and all that.)"
"(That was fifteen years ago. Though I still can hear their voices, I've learned to cope.)" She shrugged. "(Now, to the point.)"
Constantine nodded, and extracted a cloth bag from the pockets of his trenchcoat. "(Old Japanese coins, used to trade with American merchants. No currency value anymore, but well preserved and ready to function as portal anchors. What do you got?)"
"(American coins, from before the Civil War, bought from private collectors. Perfect for portal keys.)" Rasputin put a leather bag on the table. "(Once we attune them to each other, they will allow instantaneous transport from America to Tokyo-3 for a few minutes. Now, there's still the little matter of actually distributing them inside the GeoFront.)"
Constantine shrugged. "(I'm sure we can find somebody to do it for us.)"
A Possible XXXIst Century
Sol System
Orbit Around Pluto
"(Eh, could be worse.)" Superboy said.
Brainiac-5 and Cosmic Boy raised a warning finger each.
Cosmic Boy turned around, "(Really, Conner?)" He said. "(Never do that during a mission!)"
Superboy shrugged. "(We could have gone to Uranus.)" He chuckled.
"(You know that joke doesn't work in Interlac, do you?)" Brainiac adjusted the shuttle's controls.
"(Yeah, but it's traditional!)" The clone waved his hands. Behind him, Supergirl leaned back on her seat, her eyes covered by a dark mask. She dope-slapped him.
"(Let me sleep, you three. Go on with your readings, transmit old but still operational codes, I don't care, I was up late catching up with M'Onel and I'm getting cranky.)"
"(Ok, Linda. (11) We'll be good.)" Superboy grimaced. Hushing, he asked. "(So, Rokk? Anything interesting?)"
Cosmic Boy shrugged. "(Just some warnings. Pluto has not been colonized, it is too dangerous. For some reason, in the mid XXIst Century, the Justice League of America quarantined the whole planet, and no one has landed there since. Or of somebody did… they did not return. If it wasn't for Superman's instructions, we would not get nearer to Pluto than a couple light-minutes.)"
"(I have the vector, inputting the route to your console, Cosmic Boy.)" Brainiac-5 informed. "(Hmm… there's no atmosféric interference.)"
"(That's good, isn't it?)" Superboy asked
"(Unusual. Even within a rarefied atmosphere, we should be getting some readings; currents, wind. I'm getting nothing. The atmosphere is still.)"
"(I better wake Linda up.)"
"(I'm awake. I think it will be prudent to put our trans-suits on before we get into range.)" She said, standing up from her seat. She pulled a transparent package from one of her belt pouches, and put it on. The trans-suits were a scientific marvel of the XXXIst Century. A combination of spacesuit and hazmat suit, practically invisible, and even permeable to metahuman powers! The others followed her example, Brainiac-5 and Cosmic Boy taking turns, so the shuttle had a pilot at any given moment.
Two hours later, the shuttle landed at an open landing pad. The place was covered in dust. A thick layer of grey-white dust.
Cosmic Boy took the data device from his belt pouches, and after a few moments of search, found the right slot to insert it. "(Everybody alert. We don't know what defenses could have been left in this place. Don't touch anything. Use your flight rings or your powers to hover, keep silence unless it's an emergency.)"
Linda nodded, and Conner zipped his lips, a gesture Bainiac-5 still had not much context for. Despite having been stranded at the XXth Century for a few weeks (12). Cosmic Boy was more familiar with the idea, so he nodded at Superboy.
The time displaced hero tapped Cosmic Boy's shoulder a couple of times, and pointed at the other side of the room. Seven powerful figures stood silently in a beam of light.
All of them instantly recognizable as the core membership of the Justice League of America. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, each one wearing a different costume than the ones in history holos, accompanied by four unknown figures: a girl wearing a variation of the Flash's uniform, and two shapeshifting men and a woman. (13)
The House of Mystery
Commander Ikari's Office (facsimile version)
"What issue are we on?" Asuka whined loudly.
Cain chuckled, satisfied. "Don't be such a baby! That was issue 15."
Despite herself, and despite how boring Cain tried to make the tale of the two toddlers, Asuka found herself legitimately interested in Sugar and Spike's little adventures. There was something endearing about how the two saw the world. There was a strange familiarity in the stories, a strange sense of deja-vu niggling at the back of her mind. (14)
Author Notes:
(1) Etrigan, the Demon; a curious case in the DCU, he is a fully accredited demon, during the Fall of Camelot, Merlin forced him into a fusion with one of Arthur's knights, Jason Blood. They can only exist alternatively, and both hate the other. Still, most of the time, they are a force for good. Etrigan is a rhyming demon, all his dialogues must rhyme; so he was quite a challenge to write. He debuted, along with Jason Blood, in The Demon, issue 1 (Sept, 1972).
(2) Amy Beitterman, she was the Spectre's love interest after her debut in The Spectre issue 1 (Dec, 1992) and was fated to be murdered (The Spectre issue 12; Nov, 1993). She ascended to Heaven, but her death was the trigger for the Spectre eradication of the European country of Vlatava. She was instrumental in breaking the cycle of temptation and damnation all previous Spectre's had fallen to.
(3) This is Zauriel, a certified Angel from Heaven's Eagle Host. He joined the JLA as a Hawkman-like character, due to the incredibly tangled continuity Hawkman had at the time. He debuted in JLA, issue 6 (Jun, 1997).
(4) Back in the original Spectre run, he was saddled with a particularly incompetent sidekick; Percival Pop, the Super Cop. Even for the 1940s standards for incompetent sidekick, he was a really bad character. He was soon forgotten until he was rescued and redeemed during the Ostrander-Mandrake run. He debuted in More Fun Comics, issue 74 (Dec, 1941) and transcended to Heaven in The Spectre issue 24 (Dec, 1994). He also helped to break the damnation cycle.
(5) During his run writing the Spectre, John Ostrander added the idea that Jim Corrigan was not the first Spectre to walk the Earth. Instead of a mortal receiving divine power, Ostrander changed the dynamic to a mortal fusing their soul to the literal incarnation of God's Wrath (The Spectre, issue 0; Oct, 1994). A succubus was tasked with tempting the first Spectre away from his mission, and after succeeding, she was punished by fusing her with the mortal's soul. This composite being, Azmodus, dedicated himself into corrupting and damning every successor to the Spectre mantle. He was a thorn in the side of Jim Corrigan for many years, until the Desecration story-arc in The Spectre issues 27 to 30; Mar to Jun, 1995). This is one of the best stories I've ever read, and IMO, it is the highest mark in the character's story.
(6) Mikhail Arkadin was a very inconvenient host for Firestorm's power, as he lived in the Soviet Union while the other half of Firestorm was in the United States! He debuted, under the hero identity of Pozhar, in Fury of Firestorm issue 64 (Oct, 1987).
(7) Serafina Arkadin debuted in Fury of Firestorm issue 69 (Mar, 1988), she formed the teenage hero group Soyuz in Fury of Firestorm issue 70 (Apr, 1988) with her closest friends, also metahumans, codenamed: Morozco (cryokinetic), Perun (strength and electro-manipulator), Rusalka (hydrokinetic), Vikhor (aerokinetic, gravity manipulator), and Firebird herself (telepath, psichokinetic, mind control, and eidetic memory). Soyuz was not used by any other writers and faded into obscurity.
(8) Piotr Illych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). Russian composer. His best known ballets are The Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
(9) Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882-1971). Russian composer. Among his many works, he wrote the ballet The Firebird (1910). He has the curious distinction of having two animated segments in Disney's Fantasia. The Rite of Spring, in the original Fantasia (1940; the segment with dinosaurs) and The Firebird in Fantasia 2000 (1999)
(10) Constantine's tastes lean to the punk. However, he is being deliberately insulting.
(11) Linda Danvers fused with Supergirl/Matrix in Supergirl issue 1 (Sept, 1996). I will show the exact circumstances of said fusion and how she came to be in the XXXIst Century in a future Intermission.
(12) A group of Legionnaires was stranded in the late XXth Century, from Legion of Superheroes issues 85 to 100 (Oct, 1996 to Jan, 1998). Both Cosmic Boy and Brainiac-5 were among the time-displaced Legionnaires, but Brainy socialized as little as possible with the locals.
(13) This has a very simple explanation. This is the League after Third Impact has been stopped. The girl in the Flash costume is an adult Iris West, and the shapeshifters are Barry, Hal, and Diana Dibny.
(14) There's a very good reason for that deja-vu feeling…