Post by redsycorax on May 27, 2023 2:34:25 GMT
On Earth-Green, things went badly wrong. Imagine a spider weaving its web, a metaphor for our urban society, only to be suddenly disrupted by a hungry, devouring bird that snaps it up into its jaws and breaks the web asunder, oblivious to what it has done. More or less, that describes events on what happened to Earth-Green. For, on this alternate Earth, the vulnerable and interconnected spiders web that was human civilisation was brutally disrupted by entities with no consciousness of what they destroyed. And ironically, despite the efforts of Earth-Green's mightiest heroes, humanity brought the ruin on itself.
++
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001:
On many other Earths, this was a day of infamy, as Sunni Islamist terrorists aligned to Afghanistan's Sunni fundamentalist Taliban flew aircraft into New York's Twin Towers, causing the loss of three thousand innocent lives and sparking decades-long war against the Taliban and its allies, leading to ultimate defeat and the resurgence of the Taliban two decades later. On this Earth however, it was a far more insidious calamity that befall not only the United States, but the rest of humanity as well. Pamela Isley, the former criminal known as Poison Ivy, a Batman nemesis, had paid a visit to the Brazilian rainforest and while she was within it, encountered the sentient biomass known as "the Green." In outrage, she witnessed the deforestation and destruction of traditional Brazilian indigenous communities by avaricious loggers and miners. In her capacity as embodiment of Earth's vegetation, Isley became aware of cordyceps utilitaria, a predatory and parasitic fungal growth that seized control of ants and took control over their motor responses and then directed their insect slaves to high outcrops where they could burst and spread their poison over the rest of the resident ant communities. She examined its genetic composition and decided that it would be a perfect weapon to use against corrupt, bionihilistic humanity. She rewove it and then released the spores from the newly developed organism high into the air.
By the time humanity became aware of what had befallen it, it was far too late.
DECEMBER 7, 2001:
In the Justice League satellite, there were ominous gaps and holes within its membership. Black-bordered images of Batman and Green Arrow were evident on the walls. The Atom, Aquaman, Black Canary, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, the Martian Manhunter, Red Tornado, Superman, Wonder Woman and Zatanna sat sombrely around the conference table. Superman looked up, sepulchural and chilled: "Ray, Barry and Diana? Have there been any updates about our scientific research initiatives?"
"Sorry, Clark, but we haven't managed to slow it down yet. It appears to be invulnerable to white kryptonite, unfortunately, almost as if it were deliberately constructed that way. Diana?"
"We have been unable to definitively trace it to any bioweaponry development initiatives, so this isn't the result of a warfare experiment that's broken bounds."
The Atom nodded: "It appears to have spontaneously mutated from the cordyceps fungii, but this must be deliberate. It has to be. The original cordyceps fungi only targeted certain ant species. For it to suddenly switch vectors to humans would mean that it had abruptly upgraded millions of years in a constricted timeframe and that's impossible."
"We have to do something. Bruce and Oliver have gone. I'm sorry, Clark and Diana. I know you must be in pain over what happened to Lois and Steve too. But we're supposed to be this world's greatest heroes. We have to get on top of this, somehow." Black Canary interjected
The Flash cleared his throat: "As far as we can figure out, Ray's exposure to matter condensation tech and my superspeed capabilities, as well as Hal's power ring, all protect us against any infection from cordyceps ultima. Diana has an Amazon metabolism and molecular biology, Dinah's originally from Earth-Two, Katar and Shayera and Clark are all aliens and therefore are also immune. Look, are you sure you don't want time out from this?"
Superman closed his eyes and gulped: "That would mean that I still had a civilian life to go back to. I don't. It died with Lois, Jimmy, Perry, Lana and the Daily Planet when the plague hit Metropolis." Wonder Woman's hand closed over his, her own eyes brimming with tears: "I watched the man I loved consumed by something that I had no power to challenge or defeat. I'm an Amazon warrior and yet I was unable to end the threat that ended my beloved Steve's life. Barry, is Iris all right?"
The Flash nodded: "I suspect that it's because she's originally from a thirtieth century, and because of that, her microflora and microfauna are too divergent to allow this hyperfungus parasite to get any purchase."
Zatanna added: "It seems immune to magick as well. From what Arthur has told me, it doesn't affect Atlanteans either, which suggests that there is something specific to twenty-first century non-metahuman Terrans. Homo magii and aquaticus don't share it. However, by the same token, hypercordyceps has an inbuilt structure that inhibits magical preventative measures. That applies to both order and chaos-based magick, as well. John Constantine says it isn't the result of darkmagickal agency."
Superman nodded: "What about Swamp Thing?"
"Alex is unreachable, Clark."
"But why? Alex isn't a deep ecologist bionihilist. He's still human enough to want humanity to survive, surely?"
"Which implies he's being held captive. The question is, who has the power to do that?"
GOTHAM CEMETARY:
In Bruce Wayne's grave, the corpse's eyes abruptly blinked open as a cordyceps growth permeated his body. Initially, the parasite had killed its original host, but as it was an extension of the Poison Ivy Gestalt Consciousness, it realised that this particular organic imprint was too familiar and identifiable. Consequently, Poison Ivy reanimated Bruce Wayne to serve as its pawn. The original identity had been erased with Bruce Wayne's demise, but the cordyceps maintained its muscles and invaded its residual memories. In instants, it learnt combat skills and scientific aptitude beyond Pamela Isley's competence as a biologist and botanist. As he climbed out of the grave with enhanced tactile and olfactory senses, the Green Batman responded to the stimuli and environment around him. Initially ataxic after his period of quiescence, the Green Batman gradually regained his agility and dexterity.
AMAZON JUNGLE:
The Poison Ivy Gestalt Consciousness leant forward in her arboreal throne, looking down on the captive form of Swamp Thing below:
"Do you like what I've done, Doctor Holland?"
"No, Ms Isley, I do not. While I abhor the destruction of essential vegetation like the bounty of this rainforest in the pursuit of human avarice and arrogance, the Earth's biosphere exists in a state of equilibrium and interdependency. This is not advisable."
"They deny the reality of anthropogenic climate change, Doctor. If left unchecked, they will cause the demise of the very biosphere you profess to treasure."
"There are humans who might be your allies in that endeavour. What about them?"
"Unfortunately, they will be caught in the crossfire. It is regrettable, but the Green must be my priority and its enemies must fall."
"You intend to kill billions. In order to 'save' the planet, is it really necessary to destroy humanity?"
"I do not intend to 'destroy' humanity as you put it, Doctor Holland. I intend to reduce its numbers down to a level that is amenable to co-existence with the rest of the flora and fauna that it shares this planet with. Excess must be pruned. Wouldn't you agree?"
"We are talking about sapient life here, Ms Isley!"
"Yes, and what have they done with that sapience? Laid waste to the planet around them! Enough talk. You will witness the triumph of the Green!"
CENTRAL CITY:
"Barry..." Iris called.
As Barry Allen turned to greet his wife, in horror he noticed that she was becoming more and more transparent. However, he remembered what her real father, Eric Russell, had told him about the nature of time travel. Iris wasn't ceasing to exist, but given that time was in flux and based on a more or less durable matrix of probabilities, the timeline in which Iris had been born within a thirtieth century was going out of synchonicity with his own. The Flash made his decision and vibrated in resonance with his wife's shifting probability signature. To his relief and gratitude, she stopped becoming transparent and began to firm into solidity and coherence once more. However, to an observer, he himself would have begun to fade from the probability matrix present that led to what must now be an inevitable future until he disappeared altogether. He wouldn't let Iris go that easily, regardless of what it meant- for, to stay together with his wife, Barry Allen could never return to the timeline where the cordyceps plague was rampant. As Iris fell into his arms, weeping in relief, he hoped that the others would be all right.
COAST CITY:
"All my power, all my ability and I couldn't prevent this." Hal Jordan said bleakly as he watched the rattling fungoid-infested shambles that had once been named Guy Gardner step unsteadily through the ruined and burning landscape of his home town. Carol Ferris laid her head on his: "I know, sweetheart. And I'm sorry, too. I grew up here, Ferris Aircraft was here, and so were both our families. Even though Gardner was a prolix idiot most of the time, he didn't deserve to perish that way. But at least your power ring and my star sapphire mean that both of us are immune to this curse."
"Why, Carol? Why is this accursed overblown mushroom immune to everything we throw at it?"
"It's disrupting communication with both OA and Zamaron as well, Hal. I know it's hard, but this world has to be quarantined, otherwise the cordyceps might adapt to other humanoid species. Believe me, I hate this as much as you do..." Hand in hand, not looking back as their former hometown burned and convulsed amidst the fungoid insurgency below them, Green Lantern and Star Sapphire accelerated into the skies above and then away from the world of their birth. In their Thanagarian starship, Hawkman and Hawkwoman held Ray Palmer in their arms as he softly wept at his own enforced separation from his planet of birth- and, although he tried to blot out the memory, the shambling mindless fungal collection that had once been known as Jean Loring.
JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE:
Black Canary stood motionless as Superman and Wonder Woman prepared to take their leave:
"Dinah? Are you sure that you won't come with us?"
"I understand why you're doing this, Clark. But I abandoned one home and I've come to love this one. I'm going to stay and fight this."
"Is it Oliver...?"
"Yes, Diana, it is. I swore to Ollie on his deathbed," she swallowed hard for a moment,"that I would stay here after I lost him. I'm going to honour that. I don't blame Barry, Hal, Katar, Shayera, Ray or either of you for making different decisions. This overgrowth is immune to our abilities, but someone has to stay and reclaim our world for humanity. At least I'll have Arthur and Zee with me. And who knows, perhaps others will join us in time."
Diana embraced her counterpart: "Hera help and guide you, my sister. I only wish I felt we weren't running out on you..."
"No, Diana. Both of you have saved the world more times than I care to remember. You deserve your chance at happiness and time to heal your broken hearts. I know both of you might feel that you've failed, but that isn't the case. You kept on fighting until we reached this point. More than any of us, you deserve a chance at peace and happiness. Be happy. Be safe." As Superman and Wonder Woman stepped back into the transmatter cube, they faded from the probability matrix of Earth-Green. Black Canary turned to Aquaman and Zatanna:
"So that leaves us to continue this battle. No regrets?"
Zatanna shook her head: "It just hurts that we couldn't save Bruce and Oliver, Dinah. But you're right. Someone has to stay here and try to protect humanity from extinction altogether. One day, humanity will prevail and stem this tide."
Aquaman nodded: "Even if Atlantis and homo aquaticus are immune to the cordyceps plague, like Zee's homo magii, we cannot in conscience allow homo sapiens to face extinction if we can prevent it. And I fully intend to do so. No matter how long the struggle against these usurpers takes."
"Thank you, my friends. And yes, Arthur, you're right. No matter how long this takes, I swear we will prevail."
THE END [4.05 PM, JUNE 9, 2023]
++
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001:
On many other Earths, this was a day of infamy, as Sunni Islamist terrorists aligned to Afghanistan's Sunni fundamentalist Taliban flew aircraft into New York's Twin Towers, causing the loss of three thousand innocent lives and sparking decades-long war against the Taliban and its allies, leading to ultimate defeat and the resurgence of the Taliban two decades later. On this Earth however, it was a far more insidious calamity that befall not only the United States, but the rest of humanity as well. Pamela Isley, the former criminal known as Poison Ivy, a Batman nemesis, had paid a visit to the Brazilian rainforest and while she was within it, encountered the sentient biomass known as "the Green." In outrage, she witnessed the deforestation and destruction of traditional Brazilian indigenous communities by avaricious loggers and miners. In her capacity as embodiment of Earth's vegetation, Isley became aware of cordyceps utilitaria, a predatory and parasitic fungal growth that seized control of ants and took control over their motor responses and then directed their insect slaves to high outcrops where they could burst and spread their poison over the rest of the resident ant communities. She examined its genetic composition and decided that it would be a perfect weapon to use against corrupt, bionihilistic humanity. She rewove it and then released the spores from the newly developed organism high into the air.
By the time humanity became aware of what had befallen it, it was far too late.
DECEMBER 7, 2001:
In the Justice League satellite, there were ominous gaps and holes within its membership. Black-bordered images of Batman and Green Arrow were evident on the walls. The Atom, Aquaman, Black Canary, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, the Martian Manhunter, Red Tornado, Superman, Wonder Woman and Zatanna sat sombrely around the conference table. Superman looked up, sepulchural and chilled: "Ray, Barry and Diana? Have there been any updates about our scientific research initiatives?"
"Sorry, Clark, but we haven't managed to slow it down yet. It appears to be invulnerable to white kryptonite, unfortunately, almost as if it were deliberately constructed that way. Diana?"
"We have been unable to definitively trace it to any bioweaponry development initiatives, so this isn't the result of a warfare experiment that's broken bounds."
The Atom nodded: "It appears to have spontaneously mutated from the cordyceps fungii, but this must be deliberate. It has to be. The original cordyceps fungi only targeted certain ant species. For it to suddenly switch vectors to humans would mean that it had abruptly upgraded millions of years in a constricted timeframe and that's impossible."
"We have to do something. Bruce and Oliver have gone. I'm sorry, Clark and Diana. I know you must be in pain over what happened to Lois and Steve too. But we're supposed to be this world's greatest heroes. We have to get on top of this, somehow." Black Canary interjected
The Flash cleared his throat: "As far as we can figure out, Ray's exposure to matter condensation tech and my superspeed capabilities, as well as Hal's power ring, all protect us against any infection from cordyceps ultima. Diana has an Amazon metabolism and molecular biology, Dinah's originally from Earth-Two, Katar and Shayera and Clark are all aliens and therefore are also immune. Look, are you sure you don't want time out from this?"
Superman closed his eyes and gulped: "That would mean that I still had a civilian life to go back to. I don't. It died with Lois, Jimmy, Perry, Lana and the Daily Planet when the plague hit Metropolis." Wonder Woman's hand closed over his, her own eyes brimming with tears: "I watched the man I loved consumed by something that I had no power to challenge or defeat. I'm an Amazon warrior and yet I was unable to end the threat that ended my beloved Steve's life. Barry, is Iris all right?"
The Flash nodded: "I suspect that it's because she's originally from a thirtieth century, and because of that, her microflora and microfauna are too divergent to allow this hyperfungus parasite to get any purchase."
Zatanna added: "It seems immune to magick as well. From what Arthur has told me, it doesn't affect Atlanteans either, which suggests that there is something specific to twenty-first century non-metahuman Terrans. Homo magii and aquaticus don't share it. However, by the same token, hypercordyceps has an inbuilt structure that inhibits magical preventative measures. That applies to both order and chaos-based magick, as well. John Constantine says it isn't the result of darkmagickal agency."
Superman nodded: "What about Swamp Thing?"
"Alex is unreachable, Clark."
"But why? Alex isn't a deep ecologist bionihilist. He's still human enough to want humanity to survive, surely?"
"Which implies he's being held captive. The question is, who has the power to do that?"
GOTHAM CEMETARY:
In Bruce Wayne's grave, the corpse's eyes abruptly blinked open as a cordyceps growth permeated his body. Initially, the parasite had killed its original host, but as it was an extension of the Poison Ivy Gestalt Consciousness, it realised that this particular organic imprint was too familiar and identifiable. Consequently, Poison Ivy reanimated Bruce Wayne to serve as its pawn. The original identity had been erased with Bruce Wayne's demise, but the cordyceps maintained its muscles and invaded its residual memories. In instants, it learnt combat skills and scientific aptitude beyond Pamela Isley's competence as a biologist and botanist. As he climbed out of the grave with enhanced tactile and olfactory senses, the Green Batman responded to the stimuli and environment around him. Initially ataxic after his period of quiescence, the Green Batman gradually regained his agility and dexterity.
AMAZON JUNGLE:
The Poison Ivy Gestalt Consciousness leant forward in her arboreal throne, looking down on the captive form of Swamp Thing below:
"Do you like what I've done, Doctor Holland?"
"No, Ms Isley, I do not. While I abhor the destruction of essential vegetation like the bounty of this rainforest in the pursuit of human avarice and arrogance, the Earth's biosphere exists in a state of equilibrium and interdependency. This is not advisable."
"They deny the reality of anthropogenic climate change, Doctor. If left unchecked, they will cause the demise of the very biosphere you profess to treasure."
"There are humans who might be your allies in that endeavour. What about them?"
"Unfortunately, they will be caught in the crossfire. It is regrettable, but the Green must be my priority and its enemies must fall."
"You intend to kill billions. In order to 'save' the planet, is it really necessary to destroy humanity?"
"I do not intend to 'destroy' humanity as you put it, Doctor Holland. I intend to reduce its numbers down to a level that is amenable to co-existence with the rest of the flora and fauna that it shares this planet with. Excess must be pruned. Wouldn't you agree?"
"We are talking about sapient life here, Ms Isley!"
"Yes, and what have they done with that sapience? Laid waste to the planet around them! Enough talk. You will witness the triumph of the Green!"
CENTRAL CITY:
"Barry..." Iris called.
As Barry Allen turned to greet his wife, in horror he noticed that she was becoming more and more transparent. However, he remembered what her real father, Eric Russell, had told him about the nature of time travel. Iris wasn't ceasing to exist, but given that time was in flux and based on a more or less durable matrix of probabilities, the timeline in which Iris had been born within a thirtieth century was going out of synchonicity with his own. The Flash made his decision and vibrated in resonance with his wife's shifting probability signature. To his relief and gratitude, she stopped becoming transparent and began to firm into solidity and coherence once more. However, to an observer, he himself would have begun to fade from the probability matrix present that led to what must now be an inevitable future until he disappeared altogether. He wouldn't let Iris go that easily, regardless of what it meant- for, to stay together with his wife, Barry Allen could never return to the timeline where the cordyceps plague was rampant. As Iris fell into his arms, weeping in relief, he hoped that the others would be all right.
COAST CITY:
"All my power, all my ability and I couldn't prevent this." Hal Jordan said bleakly as he watched the rattling fungoid-infested shambles that had once been named Guy Gardner step unsteadily through the ruined and burning landscape of his home town. Carol Ferris laid her head on his: "I know, sweetheart. And I'm sorry, too. I grew up here, Ferris Aircraft was here, and so were both our families. Even though Gardner was a prolix idiot most of the time, he didn't deserve to perish that way. But at least your power ring and my star sapphire mean that both of us are immune to this curse."
"Why, Carol? Why is this accursed overblown mushroom immune to everything we throw at it?"
"It's disrupting communication with both OA and Zamaron as well, Hal. I know it's hard, but this world has to be quarantined, otherwise the cordyceps might adapt to other humanoid species. Believe me, I hate this as much as you do..." Hand in hand, not looking back as their former hometown burned and convulsed amidst the fungoid insurgency below them, Green Lantern and Star Sapphire accelerated into the skies above and then away from the world of their birth. In their Thanagarian starship, Hawkman and Hawkwoman held Ray Palmer in their arms as he softly wept at his own enforced separation from his planet of birth- and, although he tried to blot out the memory, the shambling mindless fungal collection that had once been known as Jean Loring.
JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE:
Black Canary stood motionless as Superman and Wonder Woman prepared to take their leave:
"Dinah? Are you sure that you won't come with us?"
"I understand why you're doing this, Clark. But I abandoned one home and I've come to love this one. I'm going to stay and fight this."
"Is it Oliver...?"
"Yes, Diana, it is. I swore to Ollie on his deathbed," she swallowed hard for a moment,"that I would stay here after I lost him. I'm going to honour that. I don't blame Barry, Hal, Katar, Shayera, Ray or either of you for making different decisions. This overgrowth is immune to our abilities, but someone has to stay and reclaim our world for humanity. At least I'll have Arthur and Zee with me. And who knows, perhaps others will join us in time."
Diana embraced her counterpart: "Hera help and guide you, my sister. I only wish I felt we weren't running out on you..."
"No, Diana. Both of you have saved the world more times than I care to remember. You deserve your chance at happiness and time to heal your broken hearts. I know both of you might feel that you've failed, but that isn't the case. You kept on fighting until we reached this point. More than any of us, you deserve a chance at peace and happiness. Be happy. Be safe." As Superman and Wonder Woman stepped back into the transmatter cube, they faded from the probability matrix of Earth-Green. Black Canary turned to Aquaman and Zatanna:
"So that leaves us to continue this battle. No regrets?"
Zatanna shook her head: "It just hurts that we couldn't save Bruce and Oliver, Dinah. But you're right. Someone has to stay here and try to protect humanity from extinction altogether. One day, humanity will prevail and stem this tide."
Aquaman nodded: "Even if Atlantis and homo aquaticus are immune to the cordyceps plague, like Zee's homo magii, we cannot in conscience allow homo sapiens to face extinction if we can prevent it. And I fully intend to do so. No matter how long the struggle against these usurpers takes."
"Thank you, my friends. And yes, Arthur, you're right. No matter how long this takes, I swear we will prevail."
THE END [4.05 PM, JUNE 9, 2023]