Post by dans on Jun 30, 2024 0:22:46 GMT
Takes place in December 1953. Shortly after this story, Atom Blake is transported to a space ship in another universe for a short time in the story The Three Blakes by robot Adam Blake from Earth X.
*****
Perched on twin thrones, each carved from black diamond, shrouded by a delicate veil of magic that separated them from the earthly realm, two demonic siblings sat in silent contemplation. Only they could penetrate this veil, a sign of their immense power and dominance over their realm. Around them, damned souls writhed and screamed in never-ending torment, their anguished cries echoing off the fiery walls adorned with windows that offered glimpses into other worlds. Satanus and Blaze, brother and sister, reveled in their dark kingdom as they watched their nefarious schemes unfold among mortals. Each standing at over seven feet, their muscular forms were draped in flaming skin that illuminated the room with an eerie glow. Each bore ram-like horns jutting from their foreheads and sharp fangs protruding from their mouths, cementing their terrifying appearance. While Satanus exuded pure darkness with his obsidian skin, Blaze burned like molten blood. Flames danced across their bodies, enhancing their demonic features as they wielded wicked pitchforks, mercilessly prodding the tormented souls around them. This was their domain, and any who dared to challenge them would suffer an eternity of unrelenting pain and misery under their merciless rule.
“As you can see, sister, my grand plan to rid the world of superheroes has been executed flawlessly!” Satanus boasted, loud and proud, his voice echoing through the cavernous depths of their lair. “There are none left on this Earth who possess enough power to stand in our way and hinder our ultimate goal of chaos and destruction!”
Through one of the many windows in the fiery walls, the pair was overlooking a strange and peculiar object floating in space. It appeared as a massive globe made of ethereal ice, its surface shimmering with a bluish glow, a rocket ship sticking out comedically from the surface. Encased within the frozen walls were countless small discolorations, some of them representing captured superheroes - Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr, and many more. The two were chuckling over the fate of so many of their hated enemies.
“Your plan?” Blaze scoffed incredulously, her fiery gaze fixed upon her brother. “You only dare take credit because Dr. Sivana is trapped alongside them. Let us not forget that you cower in fear at the mere thought of him. You best pray that he never learns of you taking credit for his success!” she sneered with malice and contempt, a threat she would haunt him with for decades to come.
Satanus let out a low, guttural snarl of anger as she rejected his claim - but he didn't dispute her. Instead, he quickly changed the subject and the view in the window shifted along with his words. "Here is a man," Satanus sneered, gesturing towards the scene unfolding before them. "A pitiful creature, like so many others, willing to sell his soul for power."
The figure in the window stood outside a pentacle, carefully carved into the rough stone floor of a cavern. Smoking candles were placed at each of the five points of the star. The man himself was dressed in black robes and a pointed hat, giving off an air of sinister authority. In one hand, he held a wand made from the thigh bone of some large animal, its tip adorned with a gleaming human skull. In the other, he clutched a book bound with worn and tattered leather. Silver letters were inlaid on the cover in an unknown language, now tarnished and unreadable.
"He believes he has found the 'Necronomicon' and that he can summon a captive demon to serve him," Satanus scoffed, unable to contain his mocking laughter at the sight before them. "I must take my leave now, sister. I'll be back shortly."
With those words, he vanished from beside her and reappeared in the window, standing confidently within the center of the pentacle.
"At least watching your inevitable failure provides some entertainment for me, brother!" Blaze chimed in with her own mocking laugh as she shifted to a more comfortable position to observe her brother's latest flop.
Just a Play in the Park
In his first 28 years of life, Atom Blake had been a super hero. Atom Blake had been a traveler through time and space. Atom Blake had once been a lover and a soldier.
But everything had changed when he crossed paths with the demons Blaze and Satanus four years ago - four years that seemed to stretch to eternity! In a disastrous encounter, Atom Blake's fate was forever altered as he became cursed to live as a six-year-old child, both in body and mind. It seemed that this curse would be his reality for eternity. However, there was a silver lining - 6 year old Atom possessed an extraordinary talent for magic, justifying his long-ago nickname "Boy Wizard". While this gift partially made up for the loss of his former superpowers, it could never replace the power of his lost sunergy-fueled 'magic' ring which had allowed him to perform miracles beyond even his present magical abilities.
Not only had the curse forced him back into childhood after living 25 years in his 'first' life, but it had also changed his metabolism. After casting a major spell, Atom would need to sleep for extended periods of time - sometimes even more than he spent awake in a day. Despite these challenges, Atom remained determined to make the best of his new life and continue using his powers for good.
In order to avoid the intervention of well-intentioned adults concerned over a 6 year old owning a house and living by himself, Atom maintained a magical disguise around his house. It was a standing spell that he had spent months perfecting, and one that required constant renewal (which also meant regular naps!). To any onlooker, it appeared as though an adult was entering and leaving his home, effectively erasing any curiosity or suspicion.
But he couldn't fight his desire for amusement suitable for a 6 year old, so Atom often spent a large part of his wakeful hours on the outdoor playground in nearby Hamster Park, playing with other children and reliving the simple joys of youth. The sound of laughter and playful shrieks would fill the air as Atom blended seamlessly into the carefree atmosphere of the park.
Today there was a special event in the park; families and friends gathered excitedly to witness an after-school Christmas play performed by the Drama Club from nearby Fawcett High School in the Hamster Park Outdoor Playhouse. The play had been written by 15 year old Fawcett High sophomore Lily Lovelace and produced by the Drama Club, and Lily was also a member of the cast - though she had modestly declined the starring role.
Enter the Fire Devil
During the intermission between Acts 1 and 2 of the play, Atom slipped out of the Playhouse and carefully scanned the sky. President Eisenhower was scheduled to arrive at Idlewild Airport in his Presidential Plane, a Lockheed Constellation named Columbine II, around this time. Atom had always been fascinated by airplanes, and since he had been age-reverted, he had taken up building model planes as a hobby. His house was now filled with his impressive collection, but he still hadn't built a Constellation. However, he had already purchased the authentic Aurora kit, so the Constellation was next up! To help him locate the President's plane, he discreetly wiggled his fingers to cast a small spell. He was excited when he spotted it almost directly overhead.
An instant later, a jolt of fear shot through him as he spotted a missile heading towards the plane. It seemed to be a fiery ball of some kind, and his magical senses were screaming warnings of danger; it was demonic magic, empowering a flying figure with a long barbed tail and a pitchfork, all engulfed in flames, about to attack the President's plane!
Without hesitation, he pointed at it and yelled "STOP!" as loudly as he could while pouring all of his magical power into the quick spell. Typically, spells were more potent when prepared beforehand - chanted in an ancient language, accompanied by specific gestures - and augmented with physical and spiritual components. But Atom only had instants to act. He had to rely on his natural power heightened by adrenaline.
The impact of the flame devil hitting his impromptu wall was painful, but Atom didn't have time to dwell on it. He snapped his fingers and summoned his small broom from thin air, hopped on board, and flew towards the flying figure. The barrier held back the devil for now, but Atom knew it wouldn't last long.
The flaming devil screeched in rage as Atom closed in, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the heat radiating from the being, threatening to break through his barrier and engulf the President's plane in a deadly explosion. With a firm grip on his broom, Atom focused all his energy on strengthening the barrier. The devil turned to face him and unleashed a barrage of attacks from its pitchfork tongs, sending tendrils of black energy towards Atom with malicious intent. Dodging and weaving through the onslaught, Atom gritted his teeth and poured every ounce of his willpower into maintaining the barrier. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he felt the strain of the magic taking its toll on him. The broom shuddered beneath him, but Atom refused to falter. He couldn't let this evil being harm the President.
As the devil continued its relentless assault, Atom felt the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. But in a sudden surge of power and grit, he channeled raw magical energy from his innermost being and used it to encase the attacker in a large globe of ice. He fortified the ice with an intensity that caught the demon off guard, causing it to howl in frustration as its flame was extinguished. However, Atom knew his powers were waning and he he knew his exhaustion would soon force him into a deep slumber. With all his will, he focused on bringing down the icy trap safely without harming any of the people frantically rushing for park exits below. His exhaustion was evident; he was unable to support the globe fully any longer and it crashed down into a parking lot, crushing several cars and rupturing their gas tanks.
He tried to wrap himself in a protective magic shield before he hit the ground himself. He could see that almost everyone had managed to leave the park by now, except a lone girl who he recognized as one of the cast members, who had made one last tour of the Playhouse to insure that no one had been trapped inside before she fled herself. Without hesitation, Atom tried to fly in her direction, determined to help. He was horrified when he was battered by the force of an explosion from the parking lot behind him! This new danger gave him a surge of energy that partially overcame his exhaustion. He instinctively tried to protect the girl as well as himself by extending his shield. The magical shield reflected the glare of the explosion and flames behind him in all directions, creating the illusion that he was shooting a stream of flaming plasma towards her!
Demonic Interlude
Satanus' fury radiated from his scorching form as he turned to face his sister Blaze, flames dancing in his grasp. "It's that wretched brat, Blake! I thought you said you had stripped him of his powers!"
Blaze's response was unusually subdued, her usually mocking tone now tinged with uncertainty. "When I last saw him, he was powerless. Something must have interfered with my spell..." She trailed off, realizing the implications of her words. "It must have been the ring; it was his only source of power strong enough to withstand my magic. But I destroyed it!" Her confidence wavered as she considered the possibility that she had underestimated her opponent. "He must have found a way to conceal it from my detection somehow..."
But then she pushed aside her doubts and returned to her usual dismissive tone. "Regardless, your Fire Devil has failed... just like all of your other schemes!"
Rather than his normal sharp comeback, Satanus reveled in the sensation of superiority that washed over him whenever Blaze admitted her own failures. "Don't count out my champion just yet," he sneered, relishing in the satisfaction of his most recent triumph over his sister.
*****
Fire Devil
Prologue in OtherwherePerched on twin thrones, each carved from black diamond, shrouded by a delicate veil of magic that separated them from the earthly realm, two demonic siblings sat in silent contemplation. Only they could penetrate this veil, a sign of their immense power and dominance over their realm. Around them, damned souls writhed and screamed in never-ending torment, their anguished cries echoing off the fiery walls adorned with windows that offered glimpses into other worlds. Satanus and Blaze, brother and sister, reveled in their dark kingdom as they watched their nefarious schemes unfold among mortals. Each standing at over seven feet, their muscular forms were draped in flaming skin that illuminated the room with an eerie glow. Each bore ram-like horns jutting from their foreheads and sharp fangs protruding from their mouths, cementing their terrifying appearance. While Satanus exuded pure darkness with his obsidian skin, Blaze burned like molten blood. Flames danced across their bodies, enhancing their demonic features as they wielded wicked pitchforks, mercilessly prodding the tormented souls around them. This was their domain, and any who dared to challenge them would suffer an eternity of unrelenting pain and misery under their merciless rule.
“As you can see, sister, my grand plan to rid the world of superheroes has been executed flawlessly!” Satanus boasted, loud and proud, his voice echoing through the cavernous depths of their lair. “There are none left on this Earth who possess enough power to stand in our way and hinder our ultimate goal of chaos and destruction!”
Through one of the many windows in the fiery walls, the pair was overlooking a strange and peculiar object floating in space. It appeared as a massive globe made of ethereal ice, its surface shimmering with a bluish glow, a rocket ship sticking out comedically from the surface. Encased within the frozen walls were countless small discolorations, some of them representing captured superheroes - Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr, and many more. The two were chuckling over the fate of so many of their hated enemies.
“Your plan?” Blaze scoffed incredulously, her fiery gaze fixed upon her brother. “You only dare take credit because Dr. Sivana is trapped alongside them. Let us not forget that you cower in fear at the mere thought of him. You best pray that he never learns of you taking credit for his success!” she sneered with malice and contempt, a threat she would haunt him with for decades to come.
Satanus let out a low, guttural snarl of anger as she rejected his claim - but he didn't dispute her. Instead, he quickly changed the subject and the view in the window shifted along with his words. "Here is a man," Satanus sneered, gesturing towards the scene unfolding before them. "A pitiful creature, like so many others, willing to sell his soul for power."
The figure in the window stood outside a pentacle, carefully carved into the rough stone floor of a cavern. Smoking candles were placed at each of the five points of the star. The man himself was dressed in black robes and a pointed hat, giving off an air of sinister authority. In one hand, he held a wand made from the thigh bone of some large animal, its tip adorned with a gleaming human skull. In the other, he clutched a book bound with worn and tattered leather. Silver letters were inlaid on the cover in an unknown language, now tarnished and unreadable.
"He believes he has found the 'Necronomicon' and that he can summon a captive demon to serve him," Satanus scoffed, unable to contain his mocking laughter at the sight before them. "I must take my leave now, sister. I'll be back shortly."
With those words, he vanished from beside her and reappeared in the window, standing confidently within the center of the pentacle.
"At least watching your inevitable failure provides some entertainment for me, brother!" Blaze chimed in with her own mocking laugh as she shifted to a more comfortable position to observe her brother's latest flop.
Just a Play in the Park
In his first 28 years of life, Atom Blake had been a super hero. Atom Blake had been a traveler through time and space. Atom Blake had once been a lover and a soldier.
But everything had changed when he crossed paths with the demons Blaze and Satanus four years ago - four years that seemed to stretch to eternity! In a disastrous encounter, Atom Blake's fate was forever altered as he became cursed to live as a six-year-old child, both in body and mind. It seemed that this curse would be his reality for eternity. However, there was a silver lining - 6 year old Atom possessed an extraordinary talent for magic, justifying his long-ago nickname "Boy Wizard". While this gift partially made up for the loss of his former superpowers, it could never replace the power of his lost sunergy-fueled 'magic' ring which had allowed him to perform miracles beyond even his present magical abilities.
Not only had the curse forced him back into childhood after living 25 years in his 'first' life, but it had also changed his metabolism. After casting a major spell, Atom would need to sleep for extended periods of time - sometimes even more than he spent awake in a day. Despite these challenges, Atom remained determined to make the best of his new life and continue using his powers for good.
In order to avoid the intervention of well-intentioned adults concerned over a 6 year old owning a house and living by himself, Atom maintained a magical disguise around his house. It was a standing spell that he had spent months perfecting, and one that required constant renewal (which also meant regular naps!). To any onlooker, it appeared as though an adult was entering and leaving his home, effectively erasing any curiosity or suspicion.
But he couldn't fight his desire for amusement suitable for a 6 year old, so Atom often spent a large part of his wakeful hours on the outdoor playground in nearby Hamster Park, playing with other children and reliving the simple joys of youth. The sound of laughter and playful shrieks would fill the air as Atom blended seamlessly into the carefree atmosphere of the park.
Today there was a special event in the park; families and friends gathered excitedly to witness an after-school Christmas play performed by the Drama Club from nearby Fawcett High School in the Hamster Park Outdoor Playhouse. The play had been written by 15 year old Fawcett High sophomore Lily Lovelace and produced by the Drama Club, and Lily was also a member of the cast - though she had modestly declined the starring role.
Enter the Fire Devil
During the intermission between Acts 1 and 2 of the play, Atom slipped out of the Playhouse and carefully scanned the sky. President Eisenhower was scheduled to arrive at Idlewild Airport in his Presidential Plane, a Lockheed Constellation named Columbine II, around this time. Atom had always been fascinated by airplanes, and since he had been age-reverted, he had taken up building model planes as a hobby. His house was now filled with his impressive collection, but he still hadn't built a Constellation. However, he had already purchased the authentic Aurora kit, so the Constellation was next up! To help him locate the President's plane, he discreetly wiggled his fingers to cast a small spell. He was excited when he spotted it almost directly overhead.
An instant later, a jolt of fear shot through him as he spotted a missile heading towards the plane. It seemed to be a fiery ball of some kind, and his magical senses were screaming warnings of danger; it was demonic magic, empowering a flying figure with a long barbed tail and a pitchfork, all engulfed in flames, about to attack the President's plane!
Without hesitation, he pointed at it and yelled "STOP!" as loudly as he could while pouring all of his magical power into the quick spell. Typically, spells were more potent when prepared beforehand - chanted in an ancient language, accompanied by specific gestures - and augmented with physical and spiritual components. But Atom only had instants to act. He had to rely on his natural power heightened by adrenaline.
The impact of the flame devil hitting his impromptu wall was painful, but Atom didn't have time to dwell on it. He snapped his fingers and summoned his small broom from thin air, hopped on board, and flew towards the flying figure. The barrier held back the devil for now, but Atom knew it wouldn't last long.
The flaming devil screeched in rage as Atom closed in, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the heat radiating from the being, threatening to break through his barrier and engulf the President's plane in a deadly explosion. With a firm grip on his broom, Atom focused all his energy on strengthening the barrier. The devil turned to face him and unleashed a barrage of attacks from its pitchfork tongs, sending tendrils of black energy towards Atom with malicious intent. Dodging and weaving through the onslaught, Atom gritted his teeth and poured every ounce of his willpower into maintaining the barrier. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he felt the strain of the magic taking its toll on him. The broom shuddered beneath him, but Atom refused to falter. He couldn't let this evil being harm the President.
As the devil continued its relentless assault, Atom felt the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. But in a sudden surge of power and grit, he channeled raw magical energy from his innermost being and used it to encase the attacker in a large globe of ice. He fortified the ice with an intensity that caught the demon off guard, causing it to howl in frustration as its flame was extinguished. However, Atom knew his powers were waning and he he knew his exhaustion would soon force him into a deep slumber. With all his will, he focused on bringing down the icy trap safely without harming any of the people frantically rushing for park exits below. His exhaustion was evident; he was unable to support the globe fully any longer and it crashed down into a parking lot, crushing several cars and rupturing their gas tanks.
He tried to wrap himself in a protective magic shield before he hit the ground himself. He could see that almost everyone had managed to leave the park by now, except a lone girl who he recognized as one of the cast members, who had made one last tour of the Playhouse to insure that no one had been trapped inside before she fled herself. Without hesitation, Atom tried to fly in her direction, determined to help. He was horrified when he was battered by the force of an explosion from the parking lot behind him! This new danger gave him a surge of energy that partially overcame his exhaustion. He instinctively tried to protect the girl as well as himself by extending his shield. The magical shield reflected the glare of the explosion and flames behind him in all directions, creating the illusion that he was shooting a stream of flaming plasma towards her!
Demonic Interlude
Satanus' fury radiated from his scorching form as he turned to face his sister Blaze, flames dancing in his grasp. "It's that wretched brat, Blake! I thought you said you had stripped him of his powers!"
Blaze's response was unusually subdued, her usually mocking tone now tinged with uncertainty. "When I last saw him, he was powerless. Something must have interfered with my spell..." She trailed off, realizing the implications of her words. "It must have been the ring; it was his only source of power strong enough to withstand my magic. But I destroyed it!" Her confidence wavered as she considered the possibility that she had underestimated her opponent. "He must have found a way to conceal it from my detection somehow..."
But then she pushed aside her doubts and returned to her usual dismissive tone. "Regardless, your Fire Devil has failed... just like all of your other schemes!"
Rather than his normal sharp comeback, Satanus reveled in the sensation of superiority that washed over him whenever Blaze admitted her own failures. "Don't count out my champion just yet," he sneered, relishing in the satisfaction of his most recent triumph over his sister.
