Post by redsycorax on Nov 22, 2021 23:19:21 GMT
On Earth-109, October 28, 1962 marked the end of the world as most of humanity knew it. Its Cuban missile crisis escalated into a fully fledged nuclear holocaust and the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Korea and the Soviet Union were all laid waste. So, what happened to the Justice Guild afterward?
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OCTOBER 29, 1962:
Amidst the smoking ruins and burning fires of Seaboard City after adjacent Ryerson US Air Force Base had been hit with a kiloton Soviet ICBM, several perplexed figures were milling around the crater. Black Siren looked around her:
"I don't understand. We must have died when that thing went off. Oh. Oh, we didn't save the city."
Green Guardsman looked around him: "I think we must have passed on. Look at us. We appear to be transparent."
"Just as long as Irene and my children made it, that's all that matters to me." The Streak replied.
"Tom? But it can't be...we saw you die." Catman said as he joined the group and witnessed Tom Turbine wading ashore.
"Don't ask me. I was a thorough going rationalist. I didn't believe there was an afterlife." To his disbelief, Tom now manifested no signs whatsoever from the radiation poisoning that he had incurred during his futile attempt to defuse the ICBM that was en route for Ryerson and the environs of Seaboard City.
"Well, there is. Hello, everyone!" Cassandra joined the gathering of Justice Guild members.
"Oh, Cass, darling! It's so good to see you! I've missed you so much." Black Siren embraced her old friend.
"But if there's an afterlife..." Green Guardsman said hesitantly, afraid of what his closeted homosexuality would then imply.
"It's not a Christian one, Scott. Rest easy. You led a virtuous life and saved a lot of people. Who cares what other secrets you had as long as you were a hero? And you were."
"I'm almost sorry there's not, although I wouldn't wish that, even for the Injustice Guild."
"Oh, they redeemed themselves, never fear. Sir Swami and Doctor Blizzard were able to teleport the citizens of an entire city to safety. And Columbine and the Sportsman gave their lives to save a trapped disabled child."
The voice belonged to a majestic, tall, black clad woman with raven hair. Cassandra seemed to know who she was:
"Queen Persephone. All honour and blessing to you, Sovereign Lady of the Underworld."
"Ah, the latest of the Astriides. Arise, my child. Perhaps you can tell your allies what will follow?"
"Yes, of course. Since I passed over, I've been in the Elysian Fields, the blessed afterlife. If you like, Donna, it's a version of heaven."
"And all of us are going there?"
"Yes. You are the virtuous and innocent dead. You did not incur this, you are not responsible for it and you will receive no punishment for it. And that means all of you, Scott Mason. Oh, and your love Harry Chance sends his regards. He will see you soon. As will your heart's desire, Lyra Lewis, Mr Terrell. And your other British friends and allies, Lady Dorothy Crichton-Wright, James Keel and Anna Beale. And your Chinese 'corpse walker' ally, Josephine Xhiang, Donna. However, you may be in for some other surprises."
"Meaning?"
"As I remarked, most of the Injustice Guild redeemed themselves. Also, and sadly, some of your youthful protegees in the Young Justice Guild didn't survive this night either. Warrick, Doreen and Simon- Boy Streak, Mynah and Kid Guardsman - all followed your valiant example to the last. But yes, Jacob, Irene and your children are alive and well. As are Catgirl and Tina Turbine."
"But should we leave all this? Look at the carnage, destruction and loss of life here." Catman asked, looking around him.
"You gave your lives to protect this city. What happens to it hereafter is up to its surviving inhabitants. You have discharged your responsibilities, for there is no greater sacrifice. And as immaterial spirits, you could not avert or change what is to come here, in any case. Come now. It is time to depart." Before they did, Cassandra glanced darkly at the demolished home of Ray Thompson and was unsurprised to witness an inhuman, bulbously headed creature with distended eyes and a dwarfed body looking out at the world he had inherited. None of the others noticed, probably assuming that their false protege and former companion Ray Thompson had perished during the nuclear exchange. Only Cassandra knew that was not the case and that Ray Thompson would rule as absolute tyrant over Seaboard City for the next four decades. Silently, Queen Persephone added, Do not fear, Cassandra. Thompson will receive due retribution in time, as you have foreseen. I know that you bitterly regret not being able to halt what follows here in Seaboard City, but this is fate. And fate will have its way.
And then, around the souls of the Justice Guild of America, Queen Persephone's ebon cloak closed - and the subsequent afterlives of the Justice Guild, their friends and companions are not for mortal mouths to disclose.
THE END
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OCTOBER 29, 1962:
Amidst the smoking ruins and burning fires of Seaboard City after adjacent Ryerson US Air Force Base had been hit with a kiloton Soviet ICBM, several perplexed figures were milling around the crater. Black Siren looked around her:
"I don't understand. We must have died when that thing went off. Oh. Oh, we didn't save the city."
Green Guardsman looked around him: "I think we must have passed on. Look at us. We appear to be transparent."
"Just as long as Irene and my children made it, that's all that matters to me." The Streak replied.
"Tom? But it can't be...we saw you die." Catman said as he joined the group and witnessed Tom Turbine wading ashore.
"Don't ask me. I was a thorough going rationalist. I didn't believe there was an afterlife." To his disbelief, Tom now manifested no signs whatsoever from the radiation poisoning that he had incurred during his futile attempt to defuse the ICBM that was en route for Ryerson and the environs of Seaboard City.
"Well, there is. Hello, everyone!" Cassandra joined the gathering of Justice Guild members.
"Oh, Cass, darling! It's so good to see you! I've missed you so much." Black Siren embraced her old friend.
"But if there's an afterlife..." Green Guardsman said hesitantly, afraid of what his closeted homosexuality would then imply.
"It's not a Christian one, Scott. Rest easy. You led a virtuous life and saved a lot of people. Who cares what other secrets you had as long as you were a hero? And you were."
"I'm almost sorry there's not, although I wouldn't wish that, even for the Injustice Guild."
"Oh, they redeemed themselves, never fear. Sir Swami and Doctor Blizzard were able to teleport the citizens of an entire city to safety. And Columbine and the Sportsman gave their lives to save a trapped disabled child."
The voice belonged to a majestic, tall, black clad woman with raven hair. Cassandra seemed to know who she was:
"Queen Persephone. All honour and blessing to you, Sovereign Lady of the Underworld."
"Ah, the latest of the Astriides. Arise, my child. Perhaps you can tell your allies what will follow?"
"Yes, of course. Since I passed over, I've been in the Elysian Fields, the blessed afterlife. If you like, Donna, it's a version of heaven."
"And all of us are going there?"
"Yes. You are the virtuous and innocent dead. You did not incur this, you are not responsible for it and you will receive no punishment for it. And that means all of you, Scott Mason. Oh, and your love Harry Chance sends his regards. He will see you soon. As will your heart's desire, Lyra Lewis, Mr Terrell. And your other British friends and allies, Lady Dorothy Crichton-Wright, James Keel and Anna Beale. And your Chinese 'corpse walker' ally, Josephine Xhiang, Donna. However, you may be in for some other surprises."
"Meaning?"
"As I remarked, most of the Injustice Guild redeemed themselves. Also, and sadly, some of your youthful protegees in the Young Justice Guild didn't survive this night either. Warrick, Doreen and Simon- Boy Streak, Mynah and Kid Guardsman - all followed your valiant example to the last. But yes, Jacob, Irene and your children are alive and well. As are Catgirl and Tina Turbine."
"But should we leave all this? Look at the carnage, destruction and loss of life here." Catman asked, looking around him.
"You gave your lives to protect this city. What happens to it hereafter is up to its surviving inhabitants. You have discharged your responsibilities, for there is no greater sacrifice. And as immaterial spirits, you could not avert or change what is to come here, in any case. Come now. It is time to depart." Before they did, Cassandra glanced darkly at the demolished home of Ray Thompson and was unsurprised to witness an inhuman, bulbously headed creature with distended eyes and a dwarfed body looking out at the world he had inherited. None of the others noticed, probably assuming that their false protege and former companion Ray Thompson had perished during the nuclear exchange. Only Cassandra knew that was not the case and that Ray Thompson would rule as absolute tyrant over Seaboard City for the next four decades. Silently, Queen Persephone added, Do not fear, Cassandra. Thompson will receive due retribution in time, as you have foreseen. I know that you bitterly regret not being able to halt what follows here in Seaboard City, but this is fate. And fate will have its way.
And then, around the souls of the Justice Guild of America, Queen Persephone's ebon cloak closed - and the subsequent afterlives of the Justice Guild, their friends and companions are not for mortal mouths to disclose.
THE END
